The Pallant Centre, Havant – until Sunday 21st May 2023
Reviewed by Sally Lumley
5*****
It isn’t often that the tables are turned and a reviewer has the opportunity to critique a colleague but as Fairy Powered Productions own Lorna Hancock and Emma Barnes took to the stage in Honk! we couldn´t resist the opportunity to find out what all the flapping and late nights have been about.
Curtain Up! Productions has collaborated with South Downe Stage School to present this fabulous, feel-good show, a musical adaptation of the 1843 Hans Christian Andersen story ´The Ugly Duckling´. First hatched in 1993, this Stiles and Drewe musical has winged its way around the world in over 8,000 productions. It has won multiple awards, including the Olivier Award for Best Musical in 2000 (beating the Lion King and Mamma Mia).
The plot is similar to the original story in that the hatchling finds himself outcast from the other farm animals for being ugly, and different from his darling duckling brothers and sisters. Feeling rather foul about himself, the little chick finds himself on an adventure of self-discovery all the while outwitting the very hungry Cat. Along the way, Ugly meets a whole flock of unique characters and finds out that being different is not such a bad thing to be.
The enthusiastic cast gave it their all, with Hayley Wilson as mother duck Ida showcasing some wonderful vocals, and rising star Maisy Wallace giving a superb performance as the irrepressible Ugly.
This multi-layered story has never been more relevant, with strong themes of diversity and inclusion. However, the message is delivered through memorable, toe tapping songs with plenty of laughs along the way. The audience thoroughly enjoyed the show, and with members of the Fairy Powered team in the flock, how could we not give this show the full five stars!