Norah Pride as the Goose (left) and Hannah Dangel as the Cat are just two of the stars at a dress rehearsal of “Honk! Jr.” (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)
Children from Hildreth Elementary School will present “Honk! Jr.,” a production of Superstar Productions, on Friday, Nov. 21, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 22, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 23, at 2 p.m. All performances will be in the HES cafeteria, and tickets will be sold at the door for $5.
“Honk” is a musical adaptation of the Hans Christian Anderson story “The Ugly Duckling,” incorporating a message of tolerance. “Honk” features the Ugly Duckling, who is a swan born in a duck’s nest, and a Cat who chases him throughout the play, hoping to eat him.
More than 8,000 performances
The first production of “Honk” opened in 1997, directed by Julia McKenzie, at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, England. “Honk” had its premiere in the United States in New Jersey at the Helen Hayes Performing Arts Center in February of 2000 and later that year was brought to the North Shore Music Theater featuring the same male lead, Gavin Creel, as Ugly. The play has since been performed throughout the world more than 8,000 times, according to the Musical Theater International website.
The Hildreth Elementary School’s production is directed by Kate Hoch of Superstar Productions, produced by Melissa Niland, and choreographed by Gina Flaherty. The musical director is Jessica Parsons. The foursome has been working together since September.
The cast includes Hannah Dangel, Sophie Boucher, Julia Clark, Cecilia Juliano, Aidan Long, Jack Magan, Julia Mara, Norah Pride, and Maggie Redinger.
Superstar Productions
Superstar’s founder, Kate Hoch, has performed in musicals and theater productions since childhood, and her organization is an outgrowth of her lifelong love of theater. The group’s mission is to offer instruction and opportunities to perform in a safe and nurturing environment to children ages six to 11. Hoch is no newcomer to children’s theater. She began directing in Harvard as a parent volunteer for the annual sixth-grade play, which in turn led to a position teaching music and drama at Oak Meadow Montessori School in Littleton. Hoch created Superstar Productions in 2002 so she could offer musical theater workshops through the Harvard school system’s Spectrum after-school enrichment program. Since then, she has produced and directed nearly 20 plays for students in grades 4 through 8 during the regular school year and in summer camps
The play
“Honk!” is set in the countryside, and all the characters are animals. The main characters are Ugly, Ida, Drake, and the Cat. Ugly is the son of Ida (mother) and Drake (father).
Act 1 begins as Ida scolds Drake for trying to leave his responsibilities on the farm just as their eggs are about to hatch. One egg is so large that Drake believes it to be a turkey egg, but Ida is doubtful. All but the largest egg hatch, and Drake takes his new flock for a swim. Meantime, the large egg hatches, and while Ida is happy that her hatchling is not a turkey, she is shocked by his appearance. He is a cygnet (a baby swan), and when the other ducklings return from their swim, the name-calling begins. The ducklings call their cygnet brother Ugly, and that becomes his name. The Cat wants to eat Ugly and tries to get close to him by pretending to be a friend. The action continues as Ugly gets lost and finds real friends who try to help him.
Act 2 continues the story of Ugly’s struggle for identity, acceptance, and even survival. His fortunes take a turn for the better when he stumbles upon a swan in need of help and takes a liking to her. The swan, named Penny, invites Ugly to fly with her, but he has no confidence in his abilities. Eventually, Ugly gets home safely and is reunited with his family and Penny. He transforms into a swan and is deemed the most beautiful duck on the lake.
Hoch says her favorite part of the play is when Ugly meets Penny, his future mate, and helps her untangle herself from a net. At this point Penny knows what Ugly is and believes in him, but he does not yet have the courage to fly with her because he is still not sure who he really is.
More than the story of a duck
As they prepare for their upcoming performance, the actors are learning not only the story of the ugly duckling but also the ins and outs of theater and how to really put “oomph” into their performances. The children involved with this play have also been learning a lot about the harm that unfairly judging others can cause, and Hoch says the subject of bullying is now being discussed in these children’s homes. “What more could a director ask for?”
