Honk!
The Musical
Act IIt is Spring, and Drake thinks about life on the farm. ("Poultry Tale"). As he attempts to sneak away, Ida scolds him for neglecting their eggs that are about to hatch. Drake believes one huge egg is a turkey's egg, but Ida is doubtful. Ida expresses "The Joy of Motherhood" and is joined by her friend Maureen, when all of the "normal" eggs hatch. Drake takes the ducklings to learn to swim, leaving Ida to wait for the fifth egg to hatch ("Different" pre-reprise). It finally hatches to reveal Ugly. Ida is initially shocked but is overjoyed that the new arrival is not a turkey. As she teaches him to swim, she notices his amazing talent ("Hold Your Head Up High").
When Drake and the ducklings return, they are aghast at Ugly's appearance and, along with Maureen, Henrietta, the Turkey, and everyone else, make fun of him, while the Cat admires what a great meal he would be ("Look At Him"). As Ugly tries and fails to "quack," he realizes he's just "Different". The Cat offers to be Ugly's friend and to treat him to lunch, which he happily accepts. Ugly tries to get Ida's permission, but she is too busy with the other ducklings. After Ugly leaves with the Cat, Ida realizes Ugly is missing. Everyone splits up to look for him.
In his lair, the Cat is preparing to eat Ugly, who is unaware of the danger ("Play With Your Food"). Just as the Cat is about to strike, the children playing outside send a ball flying through the window, hitting the Cat and causing him to fall into the pot. Ugly thinks he is hiding and goes to find a hiding place of his own, but ends up getting lost ("Lost"). Back at the duckyard, no one can find Ugly, and they mourn him ("The Elegy"), but Ida refuses to believe he is dead. Jay Bird (or Maggie Pie), interrupts and begins to interview Ida for "America's Most Feathered". Ida laments about what it's like to lose one of your children ("Every Tear a Mother Cries"). Ida continues to search for Ugly, leaving her other four ducklings with Drake as they kiss.
Meanwhile, Ugly comes across two military geese, Greylag and Dot, and begs for their help. They and their "squadron" of geese decide to go on a reconnaissance mission to find Ugly's home ("Wild Goose Chase"). However, there is a shoot going on in the marsh, so the Cat sneaks in and offers to help out by telling them when the shoot is over, hoping that they will leave him alone with Ugly. Greylag sees through the Cat's plan and takes him along. The Geese and the Cat head off to the shoot, which is still going on, and get shot down. Ugly, who didn't go on the mission with them, realizes that the Cat is evil and had lied. Ida sets off to find Ugly, and they both vow to find each other and be reunited. ("Hold Your Head Up High" Reprise).
Act IIUgly wanders into a house and meets Queenie and Lowbutt, a domesticated cat and chicken. They too make fun of him not only for his looks but also for not being of "their sort" ("It Takes All Sorts"). When they turn on the TV, they see Ida and Jay Bird broadcasting a missing notice for Ugly. Ugly recognizes his mother and Queenie goes to call the advertised number. Just then the doorbell rings, and the Cat enters, poorly disguised as Drake. Ugly sees through the disguise, but Lowbutt believes he is actually Ugly's father. But when Queenie comes back in, the Cat falls in love. Queenie also thinks he is a duck, but she too falls in love when he removes his disguise ("Together"). Lowbutt is dismayed, so she helps Ugly to escape, leaving the Cat to decide between his meal and Queenie. He chooses to go after Ugly, leaving Lowbutt to console Queenie.
Back at the farmyard, Drake is forced into some responsibility, and, now that the ducklings are almost a year old, they are beginning to give Drake a hard time as teenagers. Ida, still searching for Ugly, comes across everyone that Ugly has met ("The Collage"). Meanwhile, Ugly finds Penny, a swan, caught in some fishing line and untangles her. Penny, knowing Ugly is a swan, invites him to migrate with her, but Ugly insists that he can't. As Penny flies away, Ugly realizes he is in love with her ("Now I've Seen You"), but is sad because he believes she could never love someone as ugly as himself. Just then, a Bullfrog comes hopping by. Noticing his bad mood, he tells Ugly about how "ugliness" is just a matter of taste and that someone out there will always love you ("Warts and All"). The song cheers Ugly up, and the bullfrog leaves. Suddenly, a net drops on Ugly's head. A farmer has caught him for his family's Sunday roast. When the Farmer goes to get his knife, the Cat sneaks back onstage and offers a deal; he will lead Ugly back to the farm, but Ugly has to promise to be the Cat's lunch. Ugly agrees, and both of them head back to the farmyard.
On the way, the two get caught in a blizzard and freeze ("The Blizzard"). Ida unfortunately has gotten caught in it as well. Ida notices them and believes Ugly is dead. Penny and her family come to Ida and tell her to cry, that her tears of hope will save Ugly. Soon Ugly wakes up and realizes he is not a duck, but a swan, then reunites with his mother ("Transformation"). Penny recognizes that Ugly is the one who saved her earlier and the two confess their love to each other. The swans invite Ugly to come learn their ways. Although Ugly wants to stay with Ida, she insists that he go with the swans. As they fly off, Ida sings of how Ugly was different, but Ugly suddenly reappears with Penny, as they have decided to stay with Ida. Just before they leave, Ugly frees the Cat, who has remained frozen this entire time. As the Cat notices Ugly is not a duck but a swan, he goes insane before running away in defeat ("Melting Moggy").
Ugly, Penny and Ida return to the lake; everyone loves Ugly now that he's a swan. They ask for his forgiveness for making fun of him ("Look At Him" Reprise). Ugly happily accepts their apology and introduces Penny. Grace decides to relinquish the Red Band, now the Cygnet Ring, to Ugly, dubbing him "the finest bird on the lake".
Character Breakdown
UGLY – The ugly ducking and the main character of Honk!. Innocent, easily confused and very impressionable, Ugly doesn’t understand why it is wrong being different. However, his insecurities melt away as his character gradually changes from a gullible duckling to a wise swan, filled with self-esteem. He is the heart and soul of the show. He must be a strong singer and good actor.
IDA – Ugly’s mom. Ida is extremely protective of her son and committed to his safety. She is sweet but feisty, and she knows how to handle her husband, Drake. After Ugly is lured away from the barnyard by the Cat, Ida is determined to find him. Ida and Ugly’s relationship is a key ingredient of the show. She is the one who teaches him that it is OK to be different. Ida sings several solos, and therefore she should have a strong soprano singing voice.
DRAKE – Ida’s husband. Drake is a sarcastic character. He is the stereotypical sitcom father – often shirking his parental duties. Drake finds Ugly quite repulsive and isn’t afraid to say it to anyone, including his wife. He should have good comic timing and a strong singing voice. Drake opens the show singing “A Poultry Tale.”
THE DUCKLINGS (BEAKY, FLUFF, BILLY, DOWNY) – Ugly’s siblings – cute little kid types. They are among the “popular” ones in the duck yard who enjoy making Ugly feel left out. They sing as a group.
MAUREEN – A moorhen and Ida’s best friend. (Originally found on the moors, a moorhen is a hen that lives near the water.) Maureen genuinely loves Ida, but she can’t resist a bit of good gossip. To the little ducklings, she is the typical annoying and overly affectionate “aunt.” Maureen sings “The Joy of Motherhood” with Ida, so she should also be a strong singer.
THE CAT – The sly, cunning villain of the show. All of the other animals are deathly afraid of him. He is manipulative, cunning, witty and above all, HUNGRY. The Cat pretends to be Ugly’s friend so he can eat him. The actor playing this role (which could be played by a male or a female) should bring a sense of fun to the character and have a good sense of comic timing. He sings a few songs, but his character allows for many of the lyrics to be “talk-sung.” Improv skills are a plus.
GREYLAG – A somewhat pompous goose and washed-up British military type, Greylag tends to over glorify his mundane activities (i.e. migrating South) to the level of military operation status. Only his wife, Dot, truly knows how to handle him. He sings a solo in “Wild Goose Chase.”
DOT – A motherly type, she is genuinely concerned with helping Ugly find his mother. Dot doesn’t think that Greylag, her husband, is an entirely capable leader, but she kindly humors his “over the top” actions. She sings solo as well as with Greylag in “Wild Goose Chase.”
BARNACLES, SNOWY, PINKFOOT – The geese in Greylag’s “squad.” They join in singing “Wild Goose Chase.”
THE BULLFROG – A laidback, self confident frog with whom Ugly comes into contact in the second half of the show. The frog cheers Ugly up with his/her song, “Warts and All.” Optimistic and funny, he/she is a stand up comedian type of character will suited to someone with good improvisational sills and comic timing. This role can be played by a male or female.
PENNY – The young, beautiful swan that Ugly saves from a tangled fishing net. She is able to see beyond Ugly’s looks and she loves him for who he is. She does not sing solo.
FATHER SWAN, MOTHER SWAN & BEWICK – Penny’s family. They help to console Ida when she thinks her son has dies, and they offer to take Ugly with them when they migrate. They do not sing solos.
GRACE – “The most distinguished duck on the lake.” Very aristocratic, she is considered the queen of the duck yard. All of the other animals look up to Grace and respect her. She, of course, is quite aware of this and is therefore a little bit haughty.
THE TURKEY – The headmaster of the ducklings’ school. The Turkey is a bit snobbish and joins in the fun of teasing Ugly. There is of course one word that send shivers down his spine – THANKSGIVING! The Turkey does not sing solo.
HENRIETTA – A hen and another of Maureen’s friends. Henrietta and Maureen gossip about the goings on in the duck yard. She takes great pleasure in making fun of Ugly. Henrietta does not sing solo.
JAY BIRD – An investigative reporter. A very “in your face” bird, all she/he cares about is getting a good story. She/He is the typical TV news personality who one would find on a reality TV show like “America’s Most Wanted.” She/He reports a story about Ugly’s disappearance. Note: If this character is played by a female, the name can be changed to “Maggie Pie.”
ENSEMBLE - The remaining actors in the company play a number of different roles. Throughout the action of the play they take on roles as barn yard animals, geese, children at play, froglets, and part of the Blizzard scene. Vocal range: N/A