Lucky Duck at the Coterie: Summer 2010

     The Coterie, is known for creative set design, simple and imaginative costuming, and wonderful casting, and their most recent production, Lucky Duck, does not disappoint. Once again, Coterie did what Coterie does best captivating audiences with a musical romp through a play that is, according to The Coterie, "American Idol meets The Ugly Duckling." 

    We all grew up reading, "The Ugly Duckling," a tale of discovering and appreciating inner beauty and potential, a story of discrimination where children learn, we hope, not to "judge a book by its cover." This summer, the classic tale is repackaged through the modern musical, Lucky Duck.

    The story tells of an "ugly duck," Serena (Jennie Greenberry), who is disrespected and shunned by her peers. The other birds overlook her strengths, dismissing her as a duck with no talent. When the King (Kip Niven) and Queen (Julie Shaw) sponsor a pageant to find a mate for the prince (Seth Golay), Serena performs and is mocked and cast out of the community. She runs away to find a new home, and it is then that she meets and rescues an entrapped wolf (Tim Scott). The wolf assures her that he can be trusted, after all, he is now vegetarian and a talent agent who will lead her to a life of fortune and fame! As Serena journeys from ugly duckling to beautiful swan, the wolf battles with a desire to give up his vegetarian ways and gobble up the singing swan, or is he confusing hunger for something else entirely?

   The supporting cast includes delightfully funny mallard sisters, played by Izzie Baldwin and Katie Karel, an eccentric fashion designer, "Goosetella," played by Julie Shaw, ravenous coyotes played by Greg Kumins and Keenan Ramos, and a host of other fun characters including Chicken Little, the three pigs, and more.

   The show is fun and fast-paced, but like the story of its origin, it also presents a valuable moral... don't judge others by outward appearance or stereotype, and don't give up on your dreams.

    It is also important to note that this modern tale includes a lot of jokes and humor, many of which specifically target the adults in the audience. If your family is a fan of fractured fairytales or modern animated features like, "Shrek," you'll love the jokes and puns in Lucky Duck. If I were to rate the play for content, I would rate it morally on the same level as "Shrek" in terms of adult themed humor, most of which went over the heads of my children.

   Lucky Duck is showing at The Coterie (in Crown Center) through August 8. Call 816.474.6552 to purchase tickets. After the show, enjoy the FREE Exhibit, "The Adventures of Clifford the Big Red Dog" at Crown Center and enter our Clifford Party Giveaway.