Ugly proves it’s okay to be different
THE audience attending the latest offering from the Thurso High School Drama Group, excellently directed by Eden Court outreach officer David Hunter, were treated to an fine evening of dance, comic acting, singing and superb storytelling.
Honk! Jnr is a musical reworking of the Hans Christian Anderson Ugly Duckling tale by Anthony Drewe and George Stiles with a contemporary anti-bullying message. The story centres on Ugly, a top-notch performance by Emma Coghill, one of a brood of ducks who, being different, is rejected by everyone but his mother, the formidable Ida. Ugly’s adopted mother was beautifully played by Myfanwy Morgan whose superb singing and comic timing were an absolute delight.
With dauntless conviction Ida affirms "The Joys of Motherhood" and her loyalty to Ugly who, although he is "Different", deserves "Every Tear a Mother Cries". In her "Hold Your Head Up High", Myfanwy summed up the "anti-bullying" and "it is okay to be different" moral of the story.
Ida’s husband, the hapless Drake, was portrayed with humour by Calum Sinclair. Drake introduced the show with "A Poultry Tale" and later also finds himself proclaiming "The Joys of Motherhood" in a funny domestic role-reversal after his wife Ida has left him to search for Ugly.
Of course every good story needs a nasty villain and Natasha Mulvey as Cat provided us with a superb kidnapping feline intent on eating the poor gullible Ugly. Natasha was wonderfully devious in her role as she wiled her way into Ugly’s confidence by trying to convince him to "Play With His Food" – never a good idea.
Alexandria Downing looked suitably worried as the farmyard Turkey intent on avoiding Christmas (thankfully she does and provides us with a wonderful comic moment near the end of the show) and Ghislaine Barry gave us a show-stopping performance as the conceited Bullfrog.
Another highlight was the performance of Mirren Cormack as the chocks-away Goose Captain, ably aided by flight attendant Rhona MacDonald, a comic double act that had echoes of the Armstrong and Miller’s RAF sketches This scene also had some excellent Busby Berkley-type moments as the Geese and Ugly fly off in formation; all achieved with an umbrella, good dancing, excellent singing and an assured director’s touch.
On his journey Ugly encounters a beautiful swan, very well played by Alice Tolworthy, who he helps untangle from an angler’s discarded fishing line.
Of course the pair fall in love but are parted when the swans fly south for the winter and Ugly remains to look for his family. Ugly’s mother eventually finds him close to death and frozen in the snow but Ida’s warm tears soon revive our hero and he, of course, awakens as a handsome swan.
Well done to David Hunter and his producer, Jenny Maxwell, who guided the young performers throughout the long rehearsal process.
The hard work and dedication of both performers and production team certainly paid huge dividends on the night. An excellent show!