(Kiara Teunissen, Emma Divine and Anna Teversham with Kirsten Lee at the back. Photo courtesy of Ocean Driven Media)Being different offers a featherbed of chuckles. (Review by Caroline Smart)
The Durban performing arts school, Rising Star Academy, has produced its second show, offering a much-valued opportunity to students and non-students to perform on a professional stage.
Honk! Junior is based on Anthony Drewe and George Stiles’s musical, Honk! which became a worldwide stage sensation after it premiered in 1993 in Newbury, in the UK. This was followed by its West End opening in London in 1999 when it won the 2000 Olivier Award for Best Musical.
The original show is a musical adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s the Ugly Duckling. The main character is Ugly, a strange-looking duckling who is rejected at birth by everyone except his mother, Ida. The story follows his life as he grows to adulthood, fighting off the advances of the evil Cat, meeting the beautiful cygnet Penny and learning that it’s quite acceptable to be “different”.
Directed by Gillian Brunings with choreography by Andrea Nel, Honk! Junior makes good use of the Seabrooke’s Theatre stage space with an attractive set and lighting changes.
Putting in a very fine and focused performance in the male role of Ugly is Kiara Teunissen. Dressed as if he’s just come off a duck shoot in the Scottish Highlands in plus-fours, mis-buttoned sports jacket, knitted hat and stockings, Ugly certainly doesn’t blend with his yellow and white fluffy siblings. Also he tends to “honk” instead of quack which should give you a clue as to his eventual identity!
As Ida, Emma Divine gives an equally good performance and this is a talent to watch. She fulfils her role with honesty, maturity and warmth, and her anguish at losing her son tugs at the heartstrings.
The cast ranges in age from 10 to 18 and at times, don’t think you are seeing double – there are twins: Temi Adewusi as Ida’s wayward husband, Drake, and Tomi Adewusi as the overbearing Greylag who heads the Goose Squadron. Other notable performances come from Emilie Gallus as Penny and Pierre Parrot as Jaybird from the television station, America's Most Feathered. Thandiwe Moyo was a clear audience favourite as Bullfrog.
The four ducklings - Tayla Berchowitz; Anna Teversham; Georgia Chisholm and Alex Paton – are a delight and their birth and emergence into the world is a scene stealer! Another enjoyable scene is when the Goose Squadron takes off in formation.
The script is full of delicious plays on words (“nest rules”; “eggcellent”; etc) and while the cast is in varying stages of acting experience and competence, the show holds together. This highly enjoyable production confirms the fact that being different offers a featherbed of chuckles.
Honk! Junior runs at Seabrooke’s Theatre, Durban High School, until September 8 at 19h30 with further performances on September 9 at 13h00 and 17h00. Tickets R70 booked on 031 277 1570 or seabrooke@durbanhighschool.co.za – Caroline Smart
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