Article: 9507; Posted: March 26, 2015 at 4:00 p.m.

The story is familiar, of course, about an “ugly” duckling that gets chastised and ridiculed by his siblings for being unattractive. Though the kids in the audience at Washtenaw Community College’s Towsley Auditorium were no more than five or six years old—thus hardly of bullying age–“Duckling” is perhaps the best time-tested story to start teaching anti-bullying. Based on the reactions of the kids, I sensed an appreciation, even at this early age, that everyone has beauty that just needs to be coaxed out and given time to develop.

The players, Barbara Scanlon (Mother Duck Margaret and Ma), Jeremy Salvatori (Ugly Duckling) Sandy Ryder [multiple parts] and Michelle Trame Lanzi [multiple parts] had precisely the energy and performance tempo kids need to stay engaged for the 50 minutes the play goes on. Scanlon’s vocals, in particular, rise above the brood of ducks as if she walked right out of a vintage volume of Hans Christian Anderson.

This production was adapted from the Anderson tale by Jeff Duncan. Original music was scored by Brian E. Buckner, who also performs keyboard and directs the arrangement, which consisted of clarinet and percussion. The music was a highlight of the production, worthy of Disney and at times reminiscent of the studio’s classic adaptation of Prokofiev’s Peter and The Wolf.

The Wild Swan has a lovely way of delivering the performance to the hearing impaired too. Rather than having a sign language performer off to the side, the performers attached to this production, Shelly Tocco and Erin Parrish, shadow the Ugly Duckling, wearing a similar costume, acting with Salvatori as if they were as one. We have seen this in other shows, but it is especially well done here.

Director Hilary Cohen delivers a story that kids as old as third grade or so should be able to take in without it being too “babyish.” Of course, I was one of the adults in the audience that never really lost the smile on my face, and I haven’t seen third grade since Nixon was in the White House.

The message from the Anderson story truly never goes out of style or becomes passé. Grade school or a high-rise office tower, judging others by the color of their feathers is something that we all need to be reminded is no way to go through life.

SHOW DETAILS:
The Ugly Duckling
Wild Swan Theatre
Towsley Auditorium, Morris Lawrence Building, Washtenaw Community College
March 25-March 28, 2015; see above for performance times
Price: $12 for adults, $8 for youth and seniors
(734) 995-0530
www.wildswantheater.org