Theater Reviews

Oct 6, 2001 - Nevada Rep Opens Season with Charm & the Musical "Honk!"

By Jack Neal

Based on Hans Christian Andersen's "Ugly Duckling," "Honk" - with music by George Stiles and book and lyrics by Anthony Drewe - fills the smallish Redfield Proscenium Theatre with oodles of color and charm.

This sweet British musical opened Friday night (10/5/2001) before a large audience that must have been as captivated by what it witnessed as the Nevada Repertory Company's players were invigorated by the lighthearted material, with the bite of message, they've been given to play by the gifted Stiles and Drewe. The authors have taken the children's tale so aptly penned by Andersen and have refashioned it into a gentle plea for tolerance. What better message these days for old and young alike.

Equally as worthwhile, this Nevada Rep production - so breezily brought to life by veteran director Jim Bernardi - is wonderfully entertaining. Under Bernardi's leadership, nothing about "Honk!" is overdone, a roasting term rightfully shunned by the show's cast of edible creatures. The virtues of the show are as casual as they are real. The book is deft; the score a delight. The Frank Loesseresque lift of the first act's "Hold Your Head Up" yielding to act two's "Warts and All" with a finale of "Just Believe in Yourself" places "Honk!" in the forefront of feel-good shows that's just what the veterinarian ordered.

"Honk!" features an array of hens, geese and other none-too-paltry poultry plus a bevy of cute-as-cute-can-be ducklings with such names as Fluff, Downey and Beaky. Surrounded by such cuteness, what chance does a just-born ugly duckling have? Honk must be grateful for a mother who recognizes that beauty lies within, even if such thoughts are not easily conveyed to a child who's been made to feel like an unwanted beast. In the end, of course, ugly Honk comes to realize that difference is as worthy of respect and love as the dear mother from whom he's been separated. "The duckyard would be boring," Honk muses, "if we all looked the same."

Honk is played to near perfection by the likably bespectacled, if too often off pitch, Bradford D. Ka'ai'ai. But be not deterred, the honks of the shyly vulnerable Ka'ai'ai, are as on key as honks need be and touch the heart of all within honking distance of the many slights thrown in the direction of this hapless duck. Honk's mom, Ida, is endearingly acted and sung by Saralinda Seibert who knows a good duckling when she hatches one.

Kevin M. Sak steals the show cat-nattily time and time again as the delightfully French cat, Cat, a non human of larger than life proportions. Sak's too-loose Cat is great fun. Especially when he runs into Queenie, the all-girl sex kitten played by Cheryl Anselmo, who purrs her way seductively into the slippery affections of Sak's all-too tom-cat Cat. Ian Rossi is a standout as Bullfrog the frog with a message, "Warts and All," that - along with a singing, dancing crew of froglets - raise "Honk's" biggest production number to show-stopping proportions.

The show's large cast doesn't have a loser in the lot. As Honk's dad, Drake, Scott House is adroitly in touch and detached seemingly at once with the reputation-blurring reality of his strange looking duckling son. Michelle Freeman's Lowbutt, the hen, is scratchingly right. David Seibert's Greylag and Hannah Neace's Dot are just too British for words. And so it goes through a long list of overachievers, plus a four-piece band to boot, that keep "Honk!" soaring at virtually all times.

Sheri Kovak's choreography is feathery light. Sunny Corrao's costumes are as sunny as her name. Carol House's musical groomings keep the cast cooing blissfully along. Michael Fernbach's set and set pieces are cartoon fresh. Larry Walters's lighting keeps all facets of the show glowing happily into the sunset.

All those good things, plus "Honk's" barnyard of creatures - great, small and lovable all - make Nevada Rep's "Honk!" just too ingratiating to miss.

"Honk!" can be seen at the Redfield Proscenium Theatre on the University of Nevada, Reno campus, 900 North Virginia Street, Reno, October 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, and 13, 2001, at 7:30 p.m. and October 13 and 14 at 1:30 p.m. For information call 775-784-6847.