Play Synopsis for HONK!

       The story opens on a sunny barnyard where Drake, a proud father-to-be introduces us to 'A POULTRY TALE' of life on the farm he calls home. His wife, Ida, has been tending her nest of four blue eggs and a curious looking large--quite large-- brown one and they are about to hatch. Slowly, four perfectly respectable ducklings emerge from the four perfectly respectable eggs, but the large egg has yet to hatch.  Drake tries to convince her to leave it and join him and their ducklings for a swim but Ida insists on staying with her unusual, unhatched egg. There is a chipping sound. There is a cracking sound. Then Ugly, a large, brown ungainly bird, waddles out of his shell while lifting Ida on his shoulders with an ignominious "honk!" He can’t quack like the others and he is much larger than the others.  Ida tries desperately to defend Ugly but the ducklings, the neighboring animals and even his father, Drake, taunt and tease him unmercifully. Alone and miserable Ugly laments his fate of being 'DIFFERENT' as the devious Cat sidles up to him, commiserates, and convinces Ugly to join him for 'lunch' in his den.  Fortunately, Ugly is able to escape the clutches of the Cat only to realize he is lost.
            Meanwhile, back at the barnyard, the fruitless search for Ugly has been called off. The neighbors are certain that a culinary death at the paws of the wicked Cat befell Ida’s unusual duckling, but Ida refuses to believe it. She determinedly sets out on a journey in search of her not-so-little, but very lost ugly duckling.
            In his search for home, Ugly encounters Greylag, a stern admiral sort of gander and his wife Dot, the domesticated house cats, Queenie and Lowbutt and a laid back Bullfrog and his Froglets.  After narrowly escaping capture by the Farmer, Ugly encounters Penny, the most beautiful bird he has ever seen, tangled in fishing line. Ugly comes to the swan’s rescue and Penny suggests he join her flock to fly south for the winter and resume the search for his family next spring. Ugly is sorely tempted to take advantage of her offer but opts to stay on and search for his worried mom. Penny embraces Ugly in her soft white wings and takes off with a resounding "honk!" Ugly is confused when he hears the familiar cry.
            Throughout Ugly’s journey, seasons have changed. As a snowstorm blows over Ugly and Cat have succumbed to the weather and are completely buried beneath a huge snowdrift discernable only as two lumps in the snow. Ida, having searched far and wide, recognizes her offspring’s snow lump and, realizing she is too late, approaches her beloved son’s icy grave. She sinks to her knees sobbing. Ida’s warm, salty tears melt the snow concealing her ugly duckling. The ice falls from his feathers, and Ugly emerges as a beautiful swan. Ugly looks down to admire his handsome reflection in the puddle of melted snow in amazement. Ugly declares he could never leave his true mother who raised and loved him unconditionally.