Tiverton Junior Operatic Club

2004

Music: George Stiles

Honk! is based on the story of the Ugly Duckling.

When mother Ida’s eggs hatch, everyone at the duck yard is surprised to find that one of the ducklings has turned out different to the rest. The Ugly Duckling (known only as Ugly) grows tired of being tormented and runs away from his nest after the cat persuades him to come away. When the cat tries to eat him, Ugly realises his mistake and flees to a nearby farm. There, the cat catches him again and gives him a choice – be eaten by the farmer or see his mother one more time and get eaten by the cat. Ugly chooses to see his mother one more time before he is eaten, but when he and the cat are returning to the duck yard they get caught in a blizzard.

A regretful Ida sets out to find her son and eventually catches up with him, only to find that he has been taken by the blizzard. Suddenly, she sees her son moving and is shocked when he emerges as a glorious swan. The cat, however, goes insane after all of his failed attempts to eat Ugly.