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Youngstown PLAYHOUSE Musical ‘Honk!’ is a beauty
By ERIC McCREA
YOUNGSTOWN
Dare to be different. You could become something great.
The classic stories of Hans Christian Andersen had amazing lessons for kids, and the one that has stood the test of time above all others has been “The Ugly Duckling.”
“Honk!” is the musical incarnation of that fairy tale, which gives the cast a chance to show their avian side.
The show opens on a farm, where new ducklings are about to hatch. But one rather large, odd-looking egg is about to give mother duck Ida, played by Connie Cassidy, a little more than she bargained for.
The “ugly duckling” played by Jailon Perry arrives loudly and becomes an easy target for the hungry, mischievous, barnyard cat, played by Snezana Jelic. Ugly wanders off and gets lost, leading to a year-long goose chase entwined with hilarity and life lessons for all.
Eventually, Ugly transforms into an amazing and dapper swan. The story is familiar to all, but The Youngstown Playhouse’s production embodies the theme from its core to its curtain.
For director Bernie Appugliese, “Honk!” was a labor of love, and it shows. His well rounded cast of young and old alike makes this show a family event that is an escape from your standard holiday fare.
Perry pulls off the perfect look for Ugly, both as a duckling and a swan, and his boisterous “honk” makes him perfect for the role.
Cassidy delivers a dedicated maternal Ida, with a penchant for sitcom-styled one-liners.
Ida’s ducklings, played by Johnna Blystone, Jessie Thomas, Jessica Stellers and Zoe Anderson are adorable.
Cast as Bullfrog, the moral compass of the show, Anthony “Coot” Madison creates the most memorable character by far. Renee Johntony and Stacy Anderson are a formidable duo as Lowbutt and Queenie.
But the most outstanding member of the cast is easily 13-year-old Snezana Jelic, who shows a level of professionalism usually found in actors much older. She has a presence on stage that is not easily forgotten.
Generally, the singing in the show is a few feathers short of amazing, and the acting from some of the performers is a bit off par, but this only adds to the warm embrace of the ugly duckling story. Anyone expecting reality-TV singing-contest caliber singers will instead find a cast with true heart, and a smile that lasts for days. This show is a pure delight, warts and all.
The set, designed by Jim Lybarger, uses creative levels of scale to add to the illusion of adults playing animals. Lighting design by Lybarger, Ellen Licitra, and Johnny Pecano is bright, colorful and rich.
“Honk!” continues Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the Youngstown Playhouse, off Glenwood Avenue. For reservations call 330-788-8739.