If I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again, Brian Martin is one Ugly dude. Now before you press send on that hate letter, please know that I mean that as one big, beautiful compliment.
With his “ducky” voice and facial expressions, Martin had the audience in stitches and tears as he stole the show this past week, taking on the starring role as the Ugly Duckling in Big Apple Productions’ and Valley Vocal Arts’ presentation of Honk! The Musical at Powerhouse Theatre.
Despite being a full grown adult, although some would argue that fact upon listening to him on his morning radio show, Martin won hearts especially while singing the musical number Different, which I am sure left a few audiences members verklempt.
In fact, all the stars of Honk! should be proud. This barnyard was stacked full of talent, delivering the wink-wink humour, funny to both and adults and kids, and singing such razzmatazz numbers as Hold Your Head up High and Warts and All, as only a professional sounding ensemble could.
Like British author George Orwell (Animal Farm), Hans Christian Andersen, who wrote the original Ugly Duckling, was a man before his time. His tale speaks to the underdog, make that under-”duck,” in all of us. The truth is, we have all been Ugly at one time.
Here, Ugly is the outcast, his peculiar honk and grey feathers setting him aside from the flock. Even his dad Drake (played here with baritoned bravada by Don Cecile) doesn’t accept him. His sisters, a gaggle of texting and catchphrase lovin’ (OMG) gals, make fun of him. It’s his mom, Ida (the golden voiced Karen Kulak Bliss), who loves him despite his differences, singing the heart wrenching Every Tear a Mother Cries when Ugly disappears in the marsh.
On his tail is the rascally kitty, Cat (Paul Rossetti, hamming it up to the most deliciously “cat”aclysmic heights; his medley of cat tunes at the end is the pièce de resistance), while other characters including Greylag, the pompous pilot goose (Michael Cairns, doing his best Michael Caine impression), his flight attendant Dot (Jenna Roze) as well as the delightful duo of Queenie the cat (Susan Evans) and hen Lowbutt (Sue Gairns), set Ugly on his path.
It’s his meeting with Bullfrog (Craig Howard) and the beautiful swan, Penny (Courtney Harker), that brings the message, and Ugly, home.
A giant quack must also be delivered to director Melina Moore for bringing this musical to town, and for her direction from the seat of her piano, no less, playing alongside the actors the whole performance.
Here’s honking for more.
