Three Honks! for the St. Genesius Theatre Society

The St. Denis parish theater was a field of feathers and fur, tulle and tiaras as the curtain opened last weekend to a barnyard full of poultry and scheming cats. The opening number, “It’s a Poultry Tale,” set the stage for Honk! Jr., a modern musical based on Hans Christian Anderson’s, The Ugly Duckling.

Ugly looks nothing like his adorable duckling siblings, who taunt him about his looks and his “honk.” Ashamed and lonely, Ugly is lured by cats who invite him for lunch, literally. Although he narrowly escapes the hungry cats, Ugly loses his way in the barnyard and begins the long search for his mother, Ida. Seasons change as Ida and Ugly search for one another, dodging people, cats and a winter blizzard. Unlucky geese, sympathetic frogs and a beautiful swan family help along the way. 

“I’ve wanted to do this show for years,” said choreographer Ellen Solderitsch, who created a virtual lift-off with geese in V formation, had frogs hopping across lily pads, and staged a stunning ballet sequence during the blizzard.

Music director Susan Barbella added, “This isn’t easy music, but it’s such a great score. The cast worked so hard to get it right.”

“Their performance brought me to tears every time,” said director Mary Agnes Ostick. “This whole theme of being accepted despite our differences... it’s such an important message,” Ostick said she watched cast and crew members make new friends on and off the stage. “That’s the reward for me,” she said. “Seeing kids who didn’t know each other in January hugging and cheering for one another in March.”

The St. Genesius Theatre Society is open to students from Annunciation and St. Denis parishes and Cardinal Foley School in Havertown. “We had students from six schools this year, including Foley, the [Haverford] middle school, local elementary schools and a home-schooler,” said producer Cathy Clinton.

“Our theater circle just keeps growing,” said Ostick, praising countless volunteers for help with sets, costumes and all the behind-the-scenes work that make shows like Honk! Jr. a success. Many, like Ostick, do not have school-aged children. “And we had tremendous support from Mrs. DeAngelo [principal at Cardinal Foley], Father Gallagher and Father Cox [pastors at St. Denis and Annunciation parishes]. That makes all the difference.” Stage Manger Chris Rosser was quick to add that cast and crew members designed, painted, glued, nailed and secured the creative, elaborate set.  

St. Genesius volunteers also include several high school students, who come back every year to help with music, makeup, lights, and sound. “A lot of them are involved in high school theater. They got their start here and they love to give back,” said Barbella. 

It isn’t just the adults who see St. Genesius as a community building experience. Eighth grader Anthony Warnick says he loves the people and the tradition. “Mrs. Ostick does a great job getting people together.” He said that some friends who have traditionally just played sports come out for the play and “find something else.”

Honk! Jr. was Molly Dorsey’s first St. Genesius show. “It was so much fun and the people are great… I wish I’d done it last year.” Dorsey plans to pursue theater in high school next year.

Devyn Russo said the theater experience was a great way to get to know people during her first year at Cardinal Foley, just after the 2012 merger of Annunciation and St. Denis schools in Havertown. Now an eighth grader in her second year at Cardinal Foley, Russo said she continued to make new friends during Honk! Jr. “It [theater] helps with confidence too,” she added.

Fame and lights aside, volunteers of all ages showed up to help strike the set before Sunday’s cast party. “Now this is community,” said Ostick, overwhelmed by the support and the heavy lifting. “Half these people didn’t even have kids in the show.”

Speaking for the cast and crew, eighth grader Kirby Droogan thanked Ostick for her years of dedication. “There once was a woman who had a big idea, an enormous heart and a boat load of talent. Her mission was to create a magical place where children of all types could join together... So she put up a sign that said “ALL ARE WELCOME.”  Thank you Mrs. Ostick for your dream and talent, and thanks [to your team] for helping [that] dream come true.