HONK! what great theater

Theater with a message, the play Honk! music by George Stiles and book and lyrics by Anthony Drewe was great fun. The production I saw tonight was performed by the students of the Music, Theater and Dance Department of Oakland University. I've seen a few of their productions so far and, comparing with what I've seen of Broadway road shows and regional and local theater, these are very talented and very professional performers. Tony Edgerton as the cat was incredible in voice and dance as was Allyson Ortwein in each of her roles wonderfully energetic and dynamic-voiced. The message, of course, is that it's okay to be different--the theme of the classic fairy tale, The Ugly Duckling, upon which this is based. My favorite number was "Warts and All" sung in very campy style by Craig Hemming and a very hopeful, someday my prince will come kind of tune. What I'd love to believe, surely.