2008 Spring Musical
LUCKY DUCK
I will add more YouTube video links as they appear. Let me know if you put one up.
Lucky Duck Trailer Good Times with Sponge Animals
Ugly Duck Mega Superstar Careful What you Wish For Good Enough to Eat Finale
Mix up an old fairytale, a modern city, one beautiful swan,
and you get Sunny Hills High School's musical "Lucky Duck", a revision of the
ugly duckling nursery tale with more modern themes of mega-superstardom and
unfair stereotypes.
When the King (Josh Fulmer) decides to have a competition for the most beautiful
song bird in all his realm, Serena (Alex Geringer) knows that she has to try
out. Her mother, Mrs. Mallard (Becki Wert), and her sisters Millicent (Jennessa
Chan) and Mildred (Kelley Kim) refuse to let her audition because she is such an
ugly duck. Serena vows to compete despite her looks, and with the help of a
friendly Wolf (Eric Yoo) as well as the fashionable Goosetella (Tracie Cho) and
Armand Dillo (Nathan Bernabe), she is transformed into a beautiful swan with the
voice to match.
The upbeat nature of the play was matched by the high energy of the ensemble.
The entire cast gave strong vocal performances, with clear diction and pleasant
singing. Although the characters were sometimes two-dimensional, the actors'
portrayal seemed to reflect the fairytale style of the musical, adding to its
charm.
Alex Geringer gave an amiable performance as the title character, Serena,
displaying her stunning voice in songs like "Mega Superstar" and "Not My Type."
Although her clothes transformed her from an ugly brown duck to a beautiful
white swan, she maintained her strong moral integrity throughout the show. On
the other hand, Eric Yoo, as the Wolf, displayed a clear reversal from good to
evil.
His character was complimented by the chorus of carnivores, who showed their
true colors with deep howls and devouring eyes in the song "Good Enough to
Eat." Becki Wert's haughty and arrogant tone as Mrs. Mallard brought to mind
Cinderella's evil step-mother, while the fashion divas Goosetella and Armand
Dillo acted as veritable fairy godmothers, tossing clothes on Serena until they
found the perfect dress.
The production was completed by incredible costumes. Ashlee Villaneuva combined
fur, feathers, and bright colors to build delightfully detailed duck and dog
outfits. The costumes were both complex and numerous, demanding praise for all
students who helped construct the designs. Although scene and light transitions
were sometimes distracting, overall the musical went up without a hitch.
Sunny Hills' charming rendition of "Lucky Duck" reminds all of us that we can't
judge a book (or a duck) by its cover.
by Jordan Monge of Northwood
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The classic storybook tales of the Ugly Duckling, Cinderella, and various
references are all mixed together in "Lucky Duck"-a rags-to-riches story told
through birds and canines. The cast of Sunny Hills High School truly appears to
enjoy performing, and their enthusiasm envelops the audience, grabbing their
attention.
Serena the duck is not a pretty bird; her evil adopted mother and sisters never
fail to remind her of this. Despite their discouragement, however, Serena is
determined to become a star and show the world that it isn't what's on the
surface that matters.
Alex Geringer stars as Serena, who, despite her appearance, is blessed with a
beautiful voice. Geringer readily supplies the strong vocals necessary for her
character. Alongside Geringer are her two unlikely love interests, Drake (Andrew
Kim) and Wolf (Eric Yoo), and Wolf's sidekicks, Clem and Carl Coyote (Jonathan
Kim and Ryan Ortega, respectively). Kim and Ortega effortlessly steal the show
with their poise and stage presence. While other actors seem uncomfortable or
perhaps unused to the stage, this hysterical duo fearlessly takes charge, and
Ortega's voice is easily one of the best in the show.
Other performers of note are Tracie Cho (Goosetella), whose clear voice added
much to her numbers, and Vivian Lee (Verblinka). Lee's body language is
confident, and she gamely maintains a hilarious accent.
The ensemble is able to keep their diction very clear and precise in most of
their numbers. Their best piece is the opening, "Ugly Duck," a bold,
entertaining eye-opener that immediately catches the audience's attention. The
chorus keeps up the energy in their numbers and dance sequences; Diana Chung
stands out as a particularly graceful performer. But the focus generally
dissipates when they become the backdrop for a soloist, with the exception of a
few who consistently react to the main action: Becki Wert (Mrs. Mallard) and
Nathan Bernabe (Armand Dillo) both remain firmly in character whenever they are
on stage.
The entire cast is outfitted in a colorful assembly of fur and feathers, all
designed by Ashlee Villanueva. The imaginative, glittering costumes complement
the relatively simple set, adding to the fairytale quality of the show. There
were several problems with microphones, but the apt projection of the actors
makes up for this technical issue. Overall, Sunny Hills' "Lucky Duck" is an
ambitious, lively production that finds its best points in an eager chorus, a
vivid wardrobe, and strong supporting roles.
by Monica Dimson of Costa Mesa
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The story of the Ugly Duckling takes on a completely new and hilarious form
called Lucky Duck which is performed by Sunny Hills High School. This musical is
the account of the ugly duck named Serena, Alex Geringer, and her journey to
fame and beauty. Along the way, she meets the "good-hearted" wolf, Eric Yoo, who
helps her overcome the prejudices of carnivores and ducks alike and gain her
wishes. Things take a turn for the worst when Serena gets betrayed but oddly
enough this all ends with surprising love.
Alex Geringer, Serena, had excellent stage presence especially in the group
numbers, such as the song Ugly Duck. Also, she had very expressive body language
that really gave life to her character Serena.
Other note-worthy performances that can't go by without mentioning were that of
Becki Wert, Mrs. Mallard, the Jonathan Kim and Ryan Ortega duo, Clem Coyote and
Carl Coyote, and the Shannon Park and Vivian Lee duo, Kim Chee and Verblinka.
They all dazzled the audience with their wonderful comedic timing. It was truly
enjoyable to watch them whenever they were on-stage with their exaggerated
gestures and large amounts of energy.
Although ensemble focus lost momentum during the second act, it was still
energetic and fun to watch. Sunny Hills High School did a great job telling the
tale of Lucky Duck.
by Sami Hagerman of Costa Mesa
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A well done and original performance of "Lucky Duck" was presented at Sunny
Hills High School. There were many performers who stood out above the rest with
their expression and dedication to the musical. Sunny Hills did a great job with
this musical; for they are only the fifth school to do it around the world.
"Lucky Duck" was basically the story of the" Ugly Duckling" but with more
pizzazz.
Alex Geringer, who plays the ugly duck Serena; is an outstanding performer. She
had confidence and a great voice. Eric Yoo who plays the wolf named "Wolf" was
very believable in his performance and he was quite comical. Together, Serena
and Wolf has a strange relationship. Serena wants to become a famous singer, and
it just so happened that Wolf was an agent. Alex Geringer pleased the audience
and Wolf with her song "Mega Superstar". Just as she was finished, Eric Yoo as
Wolf wanted to help her out with her dream and lend a "Helping Paw". Eric did
very well at that song and he was compassionate.
The Ensemble shined in the musical number "Ugly Duck". It was lively and
colorful which the audience enjoyed. Clem Coyote and Carl Coyote, played by
Jonathan Kim and Ryan Ortega; were very funny and they act the part very well.
The Carnivores as a whole did a good job too. They shined in "Good Enough To
Eat".
The cast and crew of Sunny Hills did a great job during the performance. Even if
there were a few microphone mishaps, the cast kept it together and kept the show
flowing. This show was like nothing I have seen before. I guess I am one "Lucky
Duck" to see this good show.
by Shantiel Vazquez of Costa Mesa
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A strong melody resounds from the Mallard Barnyard as Sunny Hills High School's
production of "Lucky Duck" begins. The Cinderella story is ubiquitous; however,
when a group adds in feathers, honks, and other woodland creatures, the tale is
revived. Written by Bill Russell and Jeffrey Hatcher, this eccentric adventure
blends pop culture with a classic fairytale and receives long laughs.
Serena, played by Alex Geringer, is the "ugly duck" of the barnyard and
therefore hated by the rest of her feathered family. The only thing she has
ever wanted is to be famous for her singing voice. The King and his loose son
host a Songbird contest to find the most beautiful singing duck in the
land-which for the son, only translates to discovering the most attractive
duck. After all, he only dates models. Just like all fairytales, the story has
to include a happy ending, where, in this case, love is blind.
Eric Yoo plays Wolf, the character who brings Serena to stardom. He actively
plays a drunken animal, but can be hard to understand at times. Alex Geringer's
portrayal of Serena seems detached and her character monotonous, but her but her
singing voice helped to make up for her shortcomings.
Two characters to definitely look out for are Clem and Carl Coyote, played by
Jonathan Kim and Ryan Ortega. Their melodic voices and sharp dance moves are
just a few highlights of the show. Ortega features countless facial
expressions, which involve him in each scene, which keeps the audience engaged
as well. Vivian Lee takes on the role of Verblinka, a designer's assistant, who
stands out every time she stands on stage. Her characterization is clever and
memorable.
The strongest part of this production is the ensemble. They start the show with
so much energy and are easy to understand when in song, which can be difficult
when working with such a large cast. Their costumes add much flare to each
individual.
Sunny Hill's cast colorfully expressed the peculiar, but amusing "Lucky Duck."
by Tracey Wagner of Costa Mesa
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"Lucky Duck" by Bill Russell and Jeffrey Hatcher is a charming and clever
interpretation of a new age ugly duckling, in which the world order of animals
is changing from the old segregation of the carnivores. As the story progresses
the ugly duckling finds that despite their differences, the birds and carnivores
in the country can coexist, and discovers her true purpose to spread love
throughout the land, making her one "Lucky Duck."
The upbeat energy and fun of the cast brings this show to life. The opening song
"Ugly Duck," has an incredible life, brought about by Mrs. Mallard, played by
Becki Wert with wonderful facial expressions and grand gesticulations, as well
as her two Mallard daughters Millicent and Mildred played by Jennessa Chan and
Kelley Kim respectively. The "Ugly Duck" referred to emerges as Serena, played
by Alex Geringer, with her wonderful voice and positive energy to bring the
character through the obstacles she goes through later in the show.
The head of the carnivores, Wolf, played by Eric Yoo, proves a strange but more
than appropriate partner to Serena, as he keeps his wolf-like tendencies and
mysterious nature while still seeming more a protagonist than antagonist, at
least while he should. His two henchmen, Clem and Carl Coyote played by Jonathan
Kim and Ryan Ortega respectively also accurately portray the dogs they are, but
with a fun and energetic manifestation one would expect from a personified
coyote. The carnivores as a whole are definitely an audience favorite with their
rough-and-tumble attitude and entertaining adlibs.
One of the most impressive aspects of "Lucky Duck" was the costuming, by Ashlee
Villanueva. The creativity in the costumes established a life-like aspect to the
characters, to personify the animals to look like people, rather than make the
actors look like animals.
Altogether, the fun and upbeat cast of "Lucky Duck" brought a wonderful and
energetic evening to the audience.
by Aaron Schwartz of Fullerton Union
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It is the story of the Ugly Duckling with music, lights, costumes, set and all.
"Lucky Duck: The Musical" is a comedy of hilarious proportions, presented by
Sunny Hills High School.
"Serena", the "ugly duckling" played by Alex Geringer is fantastic in stage
presence and voice. It is easy to see a "swan" in her, even in the very first
scene. In "Serena's" journey to find someone who will love her for who she is,
not what she looks like, she finds the "Wolf" (played by Eric Yoo), who
struggles between his desires to eat "Serena" or marry her. With the rowdy "Clem
and Carl Coyote" (played by Jonathan Kim and Ryan Ortega) helping "Wolf" along,
and with the fabulous "Goosetella" and "Armand Dillo" (Played by Tracie Cho and
Nathan Bernabe) teaching "Serena" to be a star, this show is a pleasure to
watch.
The ensemble, which ranges from "Free Range Chickens" to "Ballet Dancers", are
always engaged in the scene, and excited. This is a fantastic feat, and it keeps
the audience's attention throughout the show. The costumes, which are entirely
student made, are nothing short of incredible. It furthers each member of the
show having a unique style and behavior to them, and is pleasing to the
audience's eyes.
The dancing is energetic and fun, and the set is beautifully used to accommodate
the entire stage. These qualities of the show help to make the show enjoyable to
watch.
The character development is a little shaky, and the sound quality makes it
difficult to understand all the things that are going on. But by the end of the
play, every person is cheering for the happy ending. "Lucky Duck" proves to be
the fun-loving play it was written to be, by the hands, paws and wings of Sunny
Hills High School.
by Amy Snyder of La Habra
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Lucky Duck the Musical follows the classic story of The Ugly Duckling. Serena
played by Alex Geringer, our ugly duckling, is the laughing stock of her
barnyard and is intent on winning the kingdom-wide Song Bird contest. With no
support from her adoptive family, the Mallards, she ventures off into the Dark
and Forbidding Forest where she meets Wolf, the talented Eric Yoo.
Alex Geringer and Eric Yoo guide us through this refreshingly different story
with the strong and always attentive ensemble.
Wolf's two sidekicks Clem and Carl Coyote played by the spunky and hilarious
Jonathan Kim and Ryan Ortega never obnoxiously stole the spotlight, but the
audience was captured by their antics and physical comedy that enhanced the
carnivore gang.
Becki Wert, who played the vain and self aware Mrs. Mallard also offered her
comedic touch to the story. Along with her two daughters, Millicent, Jennessa
Chan, and Mildred, Kelly Kim, the three were a hilarious triplet of laughs and
insults.
Alex Geringer was simply stunning as the lead Serena. Her acting talents were
only outshined by her stunning vocal abilities. While on stage Alex never lost
her focus and maintained a constant level of energy that seemed to comfort her
fellow actors.
Sunny Hills High School has done an amazing job at producing this musical. With
superb and fitting costumes, and a functional and colorful set, Sunny Hills has
shown what they can produce and has stood out from the rest.
by Anthony Espinoza of La Habra
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Where can one find a quack-tabulous production for cheep? Sunny Hills
highschool is ready and willing to deliver as quick as you can say, "Lucky
Duck."
Bill Russell's musical, "Lucky Duck," is a version of the timeless story of "The
Ugly Duckling." Russell's version, which takes place in a kingdom where
vegetarianism is the law and the ducks rule. The classic "jazz-hands" musical
is vivacious and full of color.
The entire ensemble of Sunny Hills' production clucks with energy, never missing
a cheep.
With a voice that soothes and a tone that is quacky Malcolm Abbot makes his
invisible role of the narrator linger in the eardrums of audience members . He
is continuously articulate in his vocalizations, which are full of character and
fluctuations in tone. Given only a script and a microphone, He sculpts and
hones his character, making it an idiosyncratic element of the production.
As Serena, the spunky, optimistic Fowl, Alex Geringer has a pure voice few in
the high school scene can match. Her energy radiates from the stage, as if to
tumble with the flurries of feathers flying around her. Showcased especially
well in songs such as "Mega Superstar," the young thespian is a fabulous
vocalist as well as actress.
As the two Principle love interests (Prince Drake and Wolf) Andrew Kim and Eric
Yoo are endearing characters, each defining themselves from one another,
bringing animal love to life. The two, though oppositions on stage, work well
together, vivacious with chemistry, competing for the love of Serena. In act 2,
"Love Song," sung by the duo, as well as Serena, is a beautiful lay, which
brings the love triangle to full circle.
Partners in crime, Clem and Carl Coyote, played by Jonathan Kim and Ryan Ortega,
are a truly hilarious element of the show. The actors exhibit wonderful
interpersonal chemistry, and comically bounce off one another like a great
ping-pong match involving poultry and prey. The couplet are continuously in
character, even in the shadows.
Costumes, designed by Ashlee Villanueva, are bright and full of life,
appropriate for the show's uplifting, feisty feel. Though there are one or two
wardrobe malfunctions, they are quickly remedied, and the actors are steadfast
and are not easily phased.
Overall, Sunny Hills' unforgettable production of "Lucky Duck," is an enjoyable
performance. It presents that every "ugly duck" has a beautiful swan inside
just waiting to hatch.
by Christine Clausing of La Habra
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Quacktastic! Quacktacular! Just plain quackers! All of the above would be
appropriate in describing Sunny Hill's production of Lucky Duck.
The story is of an ugly duck turned into a superstar swan with the help of a
bloodthirsty agent. The ugly duck encounters a plentiful amount of crazy
characters along the way to stardom.
This newly released, creative show is uniquely mastered by the cast and crew.
The leading lucky duck, Serena, is played by the adorable Alex Geringer. Along
with her obvious amount of stage presence, every time she opens her mouth to
sing, the audience is never disappointed. Her character ranger is undoubtedly
highlighted during her song "Mega Superstar," where she shoes a spunky
all-or-nothing attitude.
Serena's leading wolf, Wolf, is played by Eric Yoo. His ability to sway the
audience with his charm is similar with the way his character sways Serena.
Tagging along with Wolf are two very animated coyotes, Carl and Clem. Ryan
Ortega and Jonathan Kim, respectively, constantly in their zesty characters
whenever they set paw on stage. Whether jumping and howling or sadly sitting in
confinement, there is never a lack of hilarious expression or funny antics with
these two.
Another strong duo is the pair of Goosetella, Traci Cho, and Armand Dillo,
Nathan Barnabe. Between Cho's fashionista attitude and Bernabe's energy, these
two are truly a pleasure to watch.
The homemade costumes in this show are a magnificent spectacle in themselves.
The vibrant colors and use of fur and feathers paralleled the actors' vibrancy
and fun-loving demeanors. The set provides for smooth transitions from scene to
scene.
Even though occurrences of technical problems were apparent, the actors overcome
the issues with a certain spark and entertaining dancing and singing.
With an abundance of individual characters, the cast and crew of Sunny Hill's
Lucky Duck brings a new quirkiness to this classic fairytale, or duck tale, one
might say.
by Jennifer Allstun of La Habra
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Sunny Hills March 12 production of Lucky Duck was more than your average
fairytale. This classic tale had major twists, was entertaining and like all
fairytales, ended in a happy ever after. The tragic tale of the unwanted ugly
duck who transforms into a swan was lead by the voice of an unseen narrator.
With a gang of carnivores, a singing wolf who mistakes hunger for love, and an
evil step family this classic tale was anything but traditional.
The sets and costumes were entirely student designed and created. The set was
amazing with beaded curtains, multiple platforms, and changing signs. Although
creative, the set did not look like a farm or barnyard which was the musical's
main setting. The set was permanent, and never varied throughout the production
despite the constant change of locations. This was distracting and semi
confusing to the audience. The costumes were beautiful and vibrant. The cast
chose bright colors that created a nice contrast with the ugly duckling. The
costumes resembled animals without being boring and overly obvious. The lighting
was simple but sometimes poorly executed. The simple lighting was beneficial
because it did not take the attention away from the actors onstage. The show
suffered from mike issues throughout the performance. Unfortunately, it was
difficult to hear some of the actors because they were delivering lines without
their mikes on.
Although the show suffered from technical set backs, the cast and crew made up
for it with the complex and synchronized choreography and amazing vocals. The
ugly duckling, Serena, (Alex Geringer) had an amazing voice, was emotional, and
energetic throughout the show and her dancing and acting were spectacular. The
evil stepmother, Mrs. Mallard, (Becki Wert) was always in character, focused and
reacting to the scene. Her good vocals and choreography suited her character and
added to the show. Clem and Carl Coyote (Jonathan Kim and Ryan Ortega) lead the
way with their comedic timing, upbeat musical numbers and show stopping
choreography. The real comedian of the show, Armand Dilo (Nathan Bernabe), was
hilarious, portraying the flamboyant fashion designer. His constant jokes,
adorable accent, and hilarious acting stole the show. The large ensemble had
great vocals but were not always in character. This made the show flat and made
the ensemble appear to be lacking motivation and constantly overreacting. The
need for more in-depth characterization became more apparent as the show went on
and the energy levels dropped. Some remember able musical numbers included Mega
Superstar, Embrace your Inner Swan, and Love Song. Although the musical numbers
occasionally suffered from awkward pauses, the cast shines full of emotion and
feeling.
Sunny Hills put on a good show with large musical numbers, impressive vocals,
and amazing choreography. Although the show suffered technically, the cast and
crew pull through with an unforgettable performance. The actors give a
heartwarming performance sending a moral message along the way. As Serena,
Goosetella, and Armand Dilo say, you've got to wipe the egg off your face and
keep on smiling.
by Elizabeth Goldman of Laguna Hills
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"Lucky Duck"
On Wednesday, March 12, 2008 I went to Sunny Hills High School to see the
production of Lucky Duck. It was written by Henry Krieger and Bill Russell and
directed by Mary Krell-Oishi. This musical is about one ugly duck who turns into
a beautiful swan on her search for stardom.
The opening set was very elaborate. It was designed to look like stone steps in
a jungle. It had steps on both sides leading up to a bridge on top. In the
center below the bridge their was a curtain, which became useful in other
scenes. As much as I liked this set, it was very busy looking and since the
costumes were very flashy, some of the scenes were a bit overwhelming. Also, the
set remained the same throughout the play, which caused a bit of confusion.
There wasn't anything all that great about the lighting in this show. The one
scene's lighting that I really liked was in the catacombs with Prince Drake,
Serena and Wolf. They were singing a song from different rooms so each time
someone sang, the lights came up on them and the other two actors were dark then
in the end the lights shone on all three when they sang together. I thought that
was creative. My only complaint about the lighting would be that sometimes
Serena's face was shadowed under her eyes and mouth.
My favorite part of this play was the costumes. Instead of using cheesy looking
animal costumes, they used costume pieces that resembled that animal. For
example, the coyotes had on leather pants and jackets with tan fur on the edges.
They all had black hair with a tan stripe down the middle. I also loved the
ducks costumes, which were tight dresses with feathers, tights and high heels.
They were all very colorful and flashy.
The lead, Alex Geringer, had an amazing voice, which suited her character of
Serena, who wanted to be a famous singer. Her voice was very strong for just a
high school student.
Overall, I thought this was an exceptional musical.
by Jenna Merrell of Laguna Hills
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Lucky Duck, performed by Sunny Hills High School, was charming and quaint. It
did not manage to create lasting characters or hit songs, but it was fun to
watch. It starts out in a barn outside a large city, with an ugly duckling,
Serena, wishing she were famous. The King announces that he will be having a
contest for the best songbird in the country. Serena finds herself an agent,
coincidentally a wolf, and heads for the city (and the contest) to make it big!
The acting in Lucky Duck seemed somewhat two dimensional. The characters lacked
motivation and drive for most of their actions, but they did manage to keep the
energy up throughout the play. Alex Geringer, who played Serena, had a beautiful
voice. Serena's exasperation at not being liked because of her beauty came
through in Alex's dialogue, and she managed to make her emotions clear. The
little parts in Lucky Duck were the proof that there are no small parts, only
small actors. Julia Huang managed to make the entire audience laugh with her
simple "Bite me." Nathan Bernabe, who played Armand Dillo, made his character
memorable, and added extra sass to his character by going beyond the dialogue.
The dancing was great, and it seemed a majority of the cast had experience in
this field. A lot of the numbers involved numerous people, but Jonathan Kim and
Diana Chung managed to awe the audience with their flips and ballet,
respectively.
The set did not manage to set the mood, but it did offer interesting blocking
and positioning. It set up a layered background, upon which the actors could
stand at different levels. The actual decoration, however, did not make sense.
It was neither reminiscent of a barn nor a city, but served more as a pretty
backdrop rather than a setting.
The lighting in Lucky Duck was generally good, but at times the characters would
be left in the dark, as they were still singing a song. The mood was, however,
struck very well by various uses of dimming and bright lights. Sound also had
many technical difficulties. The microphones turned off and on throughout
multiple songs.
The one liners and charm saved Lucky Duck, but it could have gone even further.
It had promise, and there were definitely good parts. It did, however, lack
character.
by Josefine Damgaard of Laguna Hills
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Review for Lucky Duck
Lucky Duck, performed last Thursday by Sunny Hills high school (the first high
school to ever preform this show), is the story of a vocally beautiful yet
physically ugly duck, whom perseveres against the prejudice of others, becomes a
renowned singer, and shows the world that inner beauty is all that really
matters.
Alex Geringer performed masterfully in her portrayal of Serena, the ugly duck
with a beautiful voice. Geringer was simply one with her role, and had a vocal
ability to match. Geringer's voice, whether singing solo or with the cast, was
both beautiful and elegant, and greatly enriched the overall wonderful singing
in the show.
Serena (Alex Geringer) was raised in the countryside by a beautiful yet mean
duck named Mrs. Mallard (played by Becki Wert). Mrs. Mallard (Wert) already had
two daughters of her own, and was not very motherly toward Serena. Becki Wert
drew the audience's attention the instant she stepped on stage until the moment
she left it. She struck the stage with superior acting ability (walking and
moving her head like a duck), great vocal ability, and fantastic stage presence
which could be seen from the very back row of the audience.
Serena ultimately leaves the farm, and travels to the city to prove to all the
animals back home that she has a beautiful voice. Serena eventually finds her
self singing at a night club owned by Clem Coyote (Jonathan Kim) and Carl Coyote
(Ryan Ortega). The Coyote brothers were jumpy, skittish, and all around very
coyote-like. They even dyed their hair orange! Kim and Ortega had tremendous
stage chemistry and should be very proud of their performances.
Serena finally makes it big when she meets the modeling agent Armand Dillo
(Nathan Bernabe). Armand transforms this ugly duckling into a beautiful swan and
all of Serena's dreams come true. Nathan Bernabe was absolutely hilarious in his
depiction of an Armadillo male modeling agent. Bernabe's comedic timing and
stereotypical impersonation of a modeling agent were terrific and was met with
roaring laughter from the audience.
The lighting for the show was just as astounding as the performances of those on
stage and served to pull the audience into the fairytale atmosphere of Lucky
Duck. Those responsible for the superior lighting performance were designer
Chuckie Carlson, and operators Brian Diep and Ben Hong.
Lucky Duck is a fun and entertaining musical with a very talented cast. Lucky
Duck should be seen by anyone who loves to see an under-duck prevail and would
like to see someone's dreams of stardom come true.
by Joshua Lee of Laguna Hills
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The story of the ugly duckling is familiar to us all and is one to which many
can relate. In Sunny Hill's performance of Lucky Duck, the classic
rags-to-riches story came to life in a colorful, energetic way.
Serena, played by Alex Geringer, is an outcasted "uglt chick" who dreams of
becoming a superstar. With the help of a ferocious yet friendly wolf, Eric Yoo,
along with a few other friends she meets along the way, she is transformed into
a beautiful swan. Though her acting was not exceptional, Alex's breathtaking
voice more than made up for it, leaving the audience yearning for another sweet
serenade. Other outstanding individuals included the hilariously flamboyant
Amand Dillo (Nathan Bernabe) and his colleague, Goosatella (Tracie Cho). More
impressive than the soloists, however, were then many small ensembles. Serena's
stepmother and step-sisters (Becki Wert, Janessa Chan, Kelley Kim) made a
dynamic trio, feeding off eachother's animated energy and remaining in character
throughout the show.
The costumes, which were all student designed, gave the show a polished,
professional look with the many colorful animal outfits. Each one was unique to
every character but all tied together in a vibrant menagerie. Because the
performers used their microphones only during solos, the awkward overlapping
from dialogue to music was often noticeably delayed or prolonged and distracted
from the actors.
Whatever preconceived notions I had entering the theater were erased when I
realized that Lucky Duck is not just the same childhood story I had heard so
many times before, but a witty revival of the age-old tale sure to warm your
heart.
by Kylie Guiral of Laguna Hills
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Quack! Sunny Hill's production of Lucky Duck, The Musical was quacktastic.
Imagine being the ugly duck. No one wants to quack with you. Aflac won't hire
you to be their spokesperson... that is horrendous. This musical documents the
story of a little duckling to full-fledged musical swan star in a few short
days.
Born to a beautiful family, this ugly duck, Serena does not have a chance.
While the others are fully clad in breath-taking white, she is in brown... which
did nothing for the duck's figure. She meets a wolf talent agent who has
recently been accused of committing a crime; he tells her he is innocent and she
believes him while he begins to make her a star: mistake. She becomes famous,
making an entrance now dressed in white, and the wolf turns; he attempts to kill
her. Meanwhile, he realizes his love for her and they joined together, and the
play ended on a high note.. literally: "Quack!"
Comprised of two leads and a brilliant ensemble cast, Lucky Duck was hardly ever
boring. Although, there were the occasional ensemble members who seemed as
though they would rather get Taco Bell than perform. There was a sensational
performance in Julia Huang, who doubled as stage manager. Her one line of,
"Bite me!" was not out of place, timed correctly and struck as hilarious. The
costumes were superb. They completely lent themselves to the character.
Serena, the main duck, (Alex Geringer) did a decent job of portraying the duck's
struggle. Her strong features were not easy to miss, making the character
easily understood. Her vocals were near fantastic and she played very well with
her counterpart, the wolf (Eric Yoo) whose performance was plausible. Whenever
he sang, Serena's expressions were perfect and spot on.
The magic of the show lied in the supporting characters and ensemble. The
Mallard birds (Becki Wert, Jennessa Chan, Kelley Kim) were phenomenal; these
birds were comprised of Serena's mother and step-sisters. Goosetella (Tracie
Cho), Serena's stylist was the strongest of the supporting cast.
A problem resided in the sound. The performers' microphones only worked if they
sang and then it was up them to project while speaking. This became tiresome
and was tedious. It broke the magic of the fourth wall, because once a
microphone kicked in, the audience was reminded it was at a play and not a fly
on the wall of this story.
Overall, Lucky Duck, The Musical was an entertaining experience. The effort of
the student production was certainly tangible. The ensemble was superb and
bright. The singing was cute. For being the first high school production of
Lucky Duck, it was a nice experience.
by Raji Ahsan of Los Alamitos
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Sunny Hills High School's production of Lucky Duck, a relatively new musical
that is both unusual and entertaining, is sweet and fun.
Lucky Duck follows Serena who is - you guessed it - an ugly duckling, and she
can't find happiness among the chickens she was born with because she is
constantly being judged by her appearance. Only when she meets an understanding
but equally prejudiced-against wolf does she find love and become a beautiful
swan (despite the unfortunate discovery that people only then become obsessed
with her beauty - either way, it's on the outside that counts).
The costume design on Lucky Duck grabs attention - the inventive chicken
costumes, especially on the females, reflect personality and stylize the animal
characteristics of the characters.
The actress playing Serena provides clear, sweet vocals for her many songs.
Serena's adoprive mother exhibits a large amount of commitment and character in
her role. Her exaggerated facial expressions fit her goofy character.
The set, made up of several platforms and a curtained entrance in the center, is
practical, adds levels, and is excellent for handling Lucky Duck's large cast.
As an ensemble, the cast of Lucky Duck provides a great deal of energy and
commitment, especially in the opening song. This large number of people's
commitment to the choreography really makes a difference in energizing the
musical numbers.
Julia Huang in her role as a cranky janitor cleaning up feathers provides a
memorable cameo moment when she bluntly insults one of the other characters
onstage.
The Wolf's two primary henchmen, a pair of very animated wolves themselves,
succeed in using every joke of theirs to the fullest; their twitchy energy and
exaggerated facial expressions draw scores of laughs.
Armand Dillo and Goosatella are very memorable fashionistas in the poultry world
- they are full of sass and personality and their snappy delivery ensure they
won't be soon forgotten.
Sunny Hills' Lucky Duck is a fun, new look at love, inner beauty, fortune, and,
well, the social problems included in the coexistence of chickens and wolves.
by Leah Folta of Mission Viejo
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From storybook to the stage, Lucky Duck is a whimsical tale of a courageous,
young duck who goes from "drab" to "fab" to prove she has what it takes to be a
beautiful swan, inside and out. Lucky Duck debuted on March 12th, at Sunny Hills
High School under the direction of Mary Krell-Oishi.
Embarrassed by her appearance, Serena, the "ugly" duck, desperately desires to
win the contest to become the prettiest songbird in the barn. Rejected by her
friends and family, Serena's talents are eventually recognized by the hungry and
carnivorous, Wolf. Deceived by Wolf's eloquent charm, Serena is swept off her
feet and lands the jobs of showgirl and model. After her roller coaster ride to
fame, Serena successfully reaches her final destination of "swan."
Unpredictably, Serena's transformation pleases her only temporarily as she soon
comes to realize true beauty and love are found on the inside.
Alex Geringer played the ever-adorable, Serena. Geringer's enthusiasm for the
role was displayed with enormous energy during every scene and song. Her lovely
voice also shined through as she serenaded the audience with her repeated "la,
la, la's". The sly and devious Wolf was embodied by Eric Yoo. Yoo's physical
movements matched Wolf's to a "T", while every howl added authenticity to his
character. Yoo also possessed consistent energy which was vital to maintaining
the wild nature of Wolf.
Inspiration to Serena, top fashion designer, Goosetella, played by Tracie Cho,
is any fairytale creature's Chanel. Cho embraced Goosetella's charisma and class
as she portrayed these qualities and more to deliver a realistic performance to
the audience. Cho also contributed her powerful voice to the show during various
unforgettable musical numbers.
Set pieces for the show consisted of tiered platforms that consumed the entire
stage and were never removed during the course of the production. To distinguish
between scenes, certain elements were added to the set in order to place the
setting. The elaborate and colorful costume designs of Ashlee Villanueva helped
create memorable characters for the audience. The lighting designs of Chuckie
Carlson consisted of general and specific lighting which illuminated the actor's
faces and set the mood for each scene. All technical aspects of the show created
enormous visual appeal for the audience.
The talented and dedicated cast of Sunny Hill's High School certainly set the
standard for following performances of the new musical, Lucky Duck.
by Noelle Medina of Mission Viejo
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Princes, singing contests, and an affair with a wolf - the story of the Ugly
Duckling has never been this fun! Sunny Hills High School performs the musical
Lucky Duck, offering a new look at the story everyone thought they knew.
Following the story of Serena as she travels from the barnyard to the big city,
Lucky Duck offers a clever twist on the classic tale of the ugly duckling. When
Serena leaves the nest behind in search of stardom, everyone is shocked by her
ugliness. However, with a make over and a modeling contract, everyone suddenly
wants a piece of her. However, Serena finds true love in the unexpected arms of
Wolf, proving that love can transcend everything, even animal instinct.
The ensemble of Sunny Hills does a wonderful job of exuding energy during the
larger dance numbers, however when simply in the background they tend to become
unfocused. Likewise, many of the characters in the show seem unsure of their
motivation and appear slightly shallow in development.
Alex Geringer as Serena has a beautiful voice. Despite the heavy amount of
singing she does throughout the show, Geringer hits every note with power and
accuracy.
With vivid facial expressions and commitment to character, Becki Wert as Mrs.
Mallard stands out from the rest of the cast. Wert's constant focus on what is
occurring in the scene and dedication to her role, as she fawns over her
daughters and squawks menacingly at everyone else.
Jonathan Kim and Ryan Ortega as Clem and Carl Coyote work wonderfully together.
Kim and Ortega have very defined physical gestures that help convey their
carnivorous qualities to the audience, such as panting, licking their chops, and
leaping swiftly around the stage. Kim and Ortega also stand out as wonderful
dancers, hitting their moves with fluidity and flawless technique.
Ashlee Villanueva's costume design is creative and fun. Villanueva does an
excellent job of creating costumes which clearly show what species the
characters are, such as the brightly colored feathered corsets and skirts of the
birds and the slick leather pants and fur lined jackets of the wolves, while
also allowing freedom of movement. The costumes are bright and energetic,
working perfectly for this modern fairy tale.
For a night of pop star swans, carnivorous quandaries, and mistaken identities,
look no further than Sunny Hills High School's performance of Lucky Duck.
by Scott Shimizu of Mission Viejo
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Sunny Hill's performance of Lucky Duck, a feather-frenzy comedy, will have you
laughing until your bill hurts.
Lucky Duck tells the story of one ugly duckling, Serena, who follows her dreams
of becoming a Mega Superstar, with just a little luck and some help from friends
she transformers herself into a beautiful swan with a beautiful song. In this
two dimensional world animals are the ruling species; wolfs are forced to take
up tofu but are seen as animals from there fellow feathered "friends." Just by
lending a helping paw the problems that face the life of the wolfs are fixed,
all thanks to a lucky duck.
From the webbed feet to the feathered head the costumes contribute to bringing
this animated world to life. Ashlee Villanueva, designer of the costumes,
creates feathered pieces of art that give a sense of life into the characters
with her creative ways of establishing animals, characters, and quarks without
distracting the audience.
Serena's, Alex Geringer, vocals soar through her performance of an ugly duck
that gets by with some luck. In the song "Mega Superstar" she pulls the audience
in with her energy and serine voice.
Armand Dillo, Nathan Bernabe, plays the role of a high fashioned designer. His
bold, suave, and sassy character brings a lot to the show.
The set for the show, designed by Julia Huang and Eric Yoo, is colorful, unique,
and it is able to become anything it needs to be. From a barnyard, to a club, to
a pound, to backstage, just to name a few, the set helps illustrate this
colorful and lighthearted show.
The show and the actors in it bring energy and charisma that can't be matched.
Some of the characters on stage lack focus; the mics often popped and were not
turned off for some characters; some of the characters seemed two dimensional,
but overall the show was able to bring a duck from ugly to fabulous with some
great cloths, talent, and just a little luck.
by Sebastian Beshk of Mission Viejo
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The colorful world of fairy tales came to life on stage at Sunny Hills High
School with their production of Lucky Duck, a musical- modern twist to the
classical story of the Ugly Duckling.
The musical unfolds the story of Serena (Alex Geringer), the ugly duckling who
dreams of becoming the kingdom's official song bird. When her unattractive
features hinder her first meeting with the king and the prince, Serena is
determined to head to the castle to try to convince the prince her voice is
beautiful.
Alex Geringer portrays the optimistic duckling Serena. Her character voice adds
a childlike quality to her character that made her character more like-able and
sweet. With swift crouched movements and loud howls Eric Yoo depicts the
character of the Wolf. The character choices made by Yoo, such as walking
hunched over with quick movements or speaking with a harsh voice, brought the
character to complete life on stage. The two humorous coyote brothers Clem and
Carl played by Jonathan Kim (Clem) and Ryan Ortega(Carl.) They're great comedic
timing and energy brought life to this fairytale story.
The sets, designed by Julia Huang and Eric Yoo, were simple yet fit perfectly
for the show. The set consisted of many different level platforms painted white
with the design of pink roses with their green vines. The bright colors on stage
are caused by the animated costumes that student, Ashlee Villanueva, designed.
The bird costumes contained vivid colored feathers bringing to life the
fairytale land once again. However when looking at the wolves and coyotes their
color was much darker and they had fur on their costumes.
Although there were some difficulties with sound and sometimes lack of energy on
stage, Sunny Hills High School's production of Lucky Duck is a delight for all
members of the family.
by Sharon Massey of Mission Viejo
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Lucky Duck is an off-beat comedy which both explores the principles of the
classic fairytale and questions the taboos of beauty and love (with some risqué
humor dotted along the way). Serena the ugly duck, played by Alex Geringer,
gracefully carries the show with a memorizing presence and a truly enchanting
vocal triumph. The show is about Serena's hope to be accepted and loved for who
she is-as well as become a superstar. When she encounters the grandson of the
Big Bad Wolf (BBW) Wolf (Eric Yoo), she is suddenly tossed into the woes of
celebrity where her voice becomes a questioned device of evil. Although Lucky
Duck is a fairytale, the actors rightly act two-dimensional and fit the
storyline with ease to emphasize the satirical theme. The most wonderful aspect
about this show is the whole cast's ability to light up the stage. The opening
number is representative of the entire musical. In the performance of Ugly Duck
every member of the cast is tangibly involved, the costumes act as their own
colorful characters, and the energy definitely excites the audience for what is
to come. The gruesome Mallard threesome, which can be closely compared to the
stepmother and step-sisters from Cinderella, create perfect egocentric demeanors
in their portrayals. Mrs. Mallard, Becki Wert, must be applauded for her
character commitment throughout the entire performance; her gestures and
movements in both facial expressions and body motions capture that of a "royal"
bird. The chemistry among the Mallards is a true comedic accomplishment-the
timing that they have together is brilliant. As the saying goes in show
business, "there are no small parts, only small actors." In Sunny Hills' feature
of Lucky Duck, there are no small parts or small actors. The ensemble is a
compilation of very talented thespians each of whom could be considered leads
within the interconnected chapters of this show: most notably Clem and Carl
Coyote, Jonathan Kim and Ryan Ortega, who lead the Carnivores in entertaining,
bluesy jazz numbers, with charisma, charm, and artistic flair. Tracie Cho as
Goosetella and her partner in crime Armand Dillo (Nathan Bernabe) are scene
stealers as well who personify the fashion world within the enchanted kingdom.
The dance crew which includes the Free Range Chickens, Carnivores, Poultry in
Motion Dancers, Models, and Ballet Dancers really bring this musical to
full-force life; they bring entertainment to the story and meaning to the stage.
There are some microphone mishaps that occur and inhibit the articulation of the
actors, but the performing is so well done and smooth that these technicalities
hardly hurt the show. Sunny Hill's Lucky Duck is a musical that is poignant,
sharp, and funny; the cast and crew deliver an enjoyable and well-crafted piece.
by Allie Schmider of St. Margaret's
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Sunny Hills High School performed the musical Lucky Duck, this is the fifth time
in the world that it has been produced. Lucky Duck was an enchanting play about
an ugly little Duck, Serena played by Alex Alex Geringer. She had a mystifying
voice that captured the audiences attention every time she arrived on stage. Her
character is so ugly that the other ducks would not let her enter the contest of
best singer, the winner would marry the prince of the city. Serena's sisters
Millicent and Mildred played by Jennessa Chan and Kelly Kim, are allowed to
enter but their voices are clearly not as beautiful as Serena's. In Serena's
travels she meets Wolf played by Eric Yoo, he is a sly creature who is enchanted
by this ugly duck. He then of course becomes her manager. The musical then goes
on with this storyline, having various charming moments here and there. The ugly
duck becomes pretty, and everyone recognizes that she is in fact a beautiful
singer. And then it finally concluding that the Wolf used Serena, and actually
just wanted to eat her the entire time. He realizes that he mistook hunger for
love, and they end up happiy ever after.
The storyline was very cute, and easy to follow. And the singers were very
talented. The only issue with the show was that it was fairly juvenile. Although
it was meant to be a children's story with adult aspects added to please all
audiences. The character development lacked greatly.
The sets were perfect for a play such as this. A one piece large dual sided
staircase with multiple openings for the large cast to stage on. and it was
constructed perfectly to hold and show every member of the cast with no
difficulty.
This was a truly charming play and the cast and crew should be extremely proud
of the work they did, because it obviously paid off.
by Jessica Willshire of Tri-School