Honk! the Musical at AE/MS: “Awesome … Professional”

The cast of AE/MS' production of Honk! Front: Alexis Cate, Savannah Drewry, Kyleigh Fanny, Katie Bent, Riley Keezer, Sadie Barton, Emily Abrahamson. Middle: Scout Armstrong, Glorianna Brown. Back: Vienna Marcus, Betsy Abrahamson, Sadie Duquette, Tori Braley, Ryelle Jenifer, Nelson Makechnie, Jared Frost, Hannah Asbury, Ryan Gotthardt, Lexi Emeny, Chloe Methven, Koby Perreault. Photo: Brenda Godwin — The cast of AE/MS’ production of Honk! Front: Alexis Cate, Savannah Drewry, Kyleigh Fanny, Katie Bent, Riley Keezer, Sadie Barton, Emily Abrahamson. Middle: Scout Armstrong, Glorianna Brown. Back: Vienna Marcus, Betsy Abrahamson, Sadie Duquette, Tori Braley, Ryelle Jenifer, Nelson Makechnie, Jared Frost, Hannah Asbury, Ryan Gotthardt, Lexi Emeny, Chloe Methven, Koby Perreault. Photo: Brenda Godwin

I had the honor of attending Honk! the Musical on my birthday this past March 27. What a wonderful decision it was, too! The Andover Players put on an awesome, professional show.

More from Honk!: Chloe Methven, Nelson Makechnie, Koby Perreault, Hannah Asbury, Director Sarah Edmunds, Lexi Emeny, and Glorianna Brown. Photo: Brenda Godwin

Honk! (lyrics and story by Anthony Drewe, music by George Stiles), which is based on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling and originally performed as an award-winning musical in London, has been adapted for young performers. This is the version we saw in March.

The storyline is both hilarious and poignant and carries the message of tolerance through both song and action. It sends home loud and clear the messages that “you shouldn’t judge a person by their outside appearance” and “treat others as you would want to be treated.”

Ms. Edmunds, the play’s director, began with auditioning students in October of 2013. The actors worked through a lengthy amount of theatrical training.

The students learned about stage presence, confidence, enunciation, diction, and projection. They learned about truth in acting, so their movements and reciting of lines never sounded fake.

Finally, they learned about improvisation … a great skill to know if you forget your lines or find yourself without an important prop!

I can’t wait until next year! As for Ms. Edmunds, “It is always a pleasure to work with the incredibly motivated and talented students at AE/MS.”

Kyleigh Fanny, Katie Bent, Riley Keezer, Sadie Barton, and Emily Abrahamson played ducklings in Honk! Photo: Brenda Godwin

Cast

Ugly – Gloriana Brown

Ida – Hannah Asbury

Drake – Nelson Mackechnie

Beaky – Kyleigh Fanny

Billy – Katie Bent

Fluff – Riley Keezer

Downy and Duffy – Sadie Barton, Emily Abrahamson

Maureen – Savannah Drewry

The Cat – Lexi Emeny

The Turkey – Betsy Abrahamson

Henrietta – Scout Armstrong

Greylag/The Bullfrog – Koby Perreault

Dot – Chloe Methven

Barnacles – Vienna Marcus

Snowy – Betsy Abrahmanson

Pinkfoot – Alexis Cate

Grace – Vienna Marcus

Penny – Ryelle Jenifer

Father Swan – Ryan Gotthardt

Mother Swan – Scout Armstrong

Bewick – Alexis Cate

Jaybird – Jared Frost

Farmer – Sadie Duquette

Girl – Tori Braley

Production Staff

Director – Sarah L. Edmunds

Musical Director – Adam Stewart

Stage Manager – Britta Johnson

Assistant Stage Manager – Hayden Buswell

Deck Crew – Matt Bent, Myles Powers

Set Design and Construction – Matthew Seamans

Costume Design and Construction – Amanda Lauster, Kait Armstrong

Sound Engineer – Chris Buswell

Painters – Matthew Seamans, Ethney McMahon, Emily Hanson

Props – Ethney McMahon, Amanda Lauster

Special Projects – Michael Wiley

The Andover Players would like to extend special thanks to Belletetes of Andover for the significant and generous donation of lumber.