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Honk!
Presented by: Gemco Players Community Theatre
Venue: The Gem
Reviewer: Gavin Dean
Date Reviewed: Friday 23rd October 2009
Honk is the very amusing musical adaptation of the Hans Christen
Anderson story of The Ugly Duckling.
Written by Anthony Drewe and George Stiles, Honk opened in England
in 1993, before continuing its successful run on THE West End
winning the 2000 Olivier Award for Best Musical.
This is Gemco Players’ premiere production in its new The Gem
theatre. The foyer was boasting nests and eggs galore giving you a
real feel for the opening night of their production of HONK!
A special mention to Belinda (not mentioned in the program) for a
very delightfully different program. It was a welcome relief from
all the A4 programs we are bombarded with. All I ask is that you
include a list of the acts and song numbers and who sings them
because for someone who has never seen the show before it’s nice to
know.
The set design by Sarah Milway was very apt for this production,
however in such a small venue if backstage crew are to be bringing
sets on half scene it would be great if they could be dressed as
farmers or in theme with the show to avoid too much distraction. I
would have to say the same for when the cast bought the fish out for
the underwater scene.
Lighting was very simple but effective, (no lighting designer is
mentioned in the program).
The sound, when working, worked well. I could not hear or understand
anything the cat said in his opening song. If you are going to have
the duckling at the back of the stage delivering lines they really
need to be wired as well because most of their dialogue was missed.
The Band led by Toni Toppi was in fine form, they sounded great. I
believe that the general ensemble harmony was lacking and several
cast members didn’t even know all the words to the ensemble songs.
Direction by Sarah Milway was even throughout although I believe
that it was Briany Dodrell’s clever choreography that bought the
show together.
I believe there was a greater need for character development, and I
really wasn’t sure the show was supposed to be set in an Australian
farm, an English farm or an American one. Everyone in the cast
seemed to have a different accent which was very confusing.
I’m sure with such an auspicious occasion the cast were really
nervous and I’m putting a lot of the missed pitching down to opening
night nerves, either that or they had trouble hearing the orchestra.
The stand out in the cast was Mat Greenaway who played the the
Bullforg and Greylag. His number Warts and All was the shows
highlight Mat had a very convincing command of the stage and also
had a fine voice. Brian Dixon as Ugly was also very talented and his
duet with his mother Ida, Hold Your Head Up High was very touching.
Adam Housham was excellent as the reporter Jack Daw, for someone so
young to have such a presence was a delight to see.
Gemco’s production of HONK is enjoyable and everyone in this
community theatre company is having a ball!
Gavin has been involved in theatre for the past 26 years, reining
from Geelong where he played such roles as Jud Fry in Oklahoma! Juan
Peron in Evita, he moved to Melbourne over 10 years ago and has
performed in "Into the Woods as the Baker, Jeffrey in Godspell and
Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. Having performed in over 30
productions, Gavin went onto direct Hot Mikado for Nightowl
Productions for which he received a Guild Judges award. Gavin has
also directed several productions for Loyola Musical Society and has
just finished performing in MLOC's Production of Beauty and the
Beast featuring as Cogsworth the clock.
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