February 2010

DIRECTOR: SCOTT HIGHWAY
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: FRANCENE HARRIS
MUSICAL DIRECTOR:PETER BAILEY
CHOREOGRAPHER: EMMA HODGE

“A Quacking Show”

How often is it we see an Olivier Award winner (edging out Beauty and the Beast and Mama Mia) appear on the Brooke Theatre stage but this Honk deseved this praise…It was slick and the lighting and sound by the Brooke Theatre staff was superb I didn’t have to focus my ears and eyes to have an enjoyable evening.

The small cast brought us this updated version of Hans Christian Andersen's much-loved “The Ugly Duckling” to life giving us a jolly, and jaunty evening.

Call me old-fashioned, but I can't help thinking does this fall in as a family adult show or panto for kids.

I decided, as I watched this musical, that Colin Moss (Drake and Bullfrog)is better as a frog in his green sparkly costume !!.than a duck …rabbit rabbit..well done Colin and Debbie Brennan who was perfect as Ida the Mum.Giving us her perfecly pitched voice and characterisation in such musical numbers as Every Tear a Mother Cries and Different just wonderfull.. and what a change for Debbie but it worked.

Glenn Atkinson’s Ugly,aptly played as a schoolboy thoughout, his diction and singing were quackingly perfect but poor thing he never got to quack..but Honk he did..quack quack (clap clap) to you Glenn.

Together Claire Thurston,(Lowbutt) Kayleigh Smith (Queenie) and Peter Lowe (Cat) gave us a churpy and a vamping Kayleigh Smith was cast perfectly as Queenie giving as all the cat moves acting dancing and looking like a cat.

A Camp William Law as Jack Daw executed just right and John Endicotts Greylag gave the audience a few titters..

All other smaller parts were played well and the choral work and dancing set by Emma Hodge was staged well and they looked good in their simple costumes Julie Smith and Jo Kember Wardrobe.

Scott Highway’s Direction took in hand both comedy and pathos, and was cleverly directed on several levels - just right for the children with some clever jokes for the adults. It was a slick production, as you would expect from Scott and this theatre group, deserving of a bigger audience than came on Friday night. Scott gave us a little bit of Hollywood too in the numbers The Blizzard and Warts and all..great!!

Peter Bailey’s musical direction thoughout in this nice score was flawless and he had gathered a near perfect group of musicions to bring this show to a high standard musically.

Simplicity set design (ColinMoss) worked well and was in the main affective,as were the props (Gerald Flanagan).

GDS you did yourselves proud in this latest production,but I do have my usual gripe.Would have liked to have seen more duck moves or swan moves …small but could be more affective. Oh nearly forgot its amazing how many words rhyme with DUCK !!!

Yours Sincerely

Gordon Harris

District 5

Noda South East Region

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