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21_V1_WAT_Nov30 Th ursday, November 30, 2017 • WATERLOO CHRONICLE • 21Serving your community since 1856 ARTS FOCUS WATERLOO CHRONICLEWATERLOO CHRONICLE Honk if you like this story Honk! the musical tells the story of Ugly the duckling at St. Jacobs Country Playhouse By Bob Vrbanac Chronicle Sta� Nathan Carroll is going back to the barnyard to play Ugly in Drayton Entertainment's pro- duction of Honk! � e award-winning family musical opens this week at the St. Jacobs Coun- try Playhouse and runs until Dec. 24 as a timeless coming of age story that proves you can't always judge a book by its cover. � e last time the 28-year-old thes- pian played the ugly duckling waws a junior version of the production when he was just 15. Carroll was wondering if acting was his calling when he first took on the role of the cygnet being raised in the wrong family, and the trial and tribula- tions he goes through until he becomes the beautiful swan he was always des- tined to be. It's a story about blossoming and finding your place in the world, and Carroll said it re� ected a lot of what he was going through at that time. "I don't remember a lot about the production itself, but I do remember it was my � rst lead role I've ever played and one of the first shows I've ever done as a teenager," said Carroll. "I had started theatre when I was a young kid but then I took a long break, and I remember feeling I was coming back to something that was really important to me. "It's when I realized I had some tal- ent, and my parents realized that, and it was a special thing to do at that age as a story of someone who really doesn't know where they � t in. "Ugly feels really uncomfortable in his body and doesn't really know what the future holds, and I was going through the same thing." He brings some different insights into Honk! as an adult more sure of himself and his choices. Carroll starred as Terry Fox in last year's poignant production of Marathon of Hope: � e Musical that left an impression on both the audience and the Fox family in attendance. He's also been part of Dora Award- winning ensembles of The Wizard of Oz, at the Young People's � eatre, � e Chasse-Galerie, with Storefront Pro- ductions, and Once with Mirvish Pro- ductions in Toronto. He's currently in Toronto directing a new production of Peter Pan, with Bad Hats, for Soulpepper � eatre, so to say he's in demand would be an under- statement. He said he's de� nitely more mature and more experienced this time around playing Ugly, and he brings some perspective to the role he didn't have before. "Now I know what it felt like to be like that when I was younger," said Car- roll. "I have the perspective of knowing that things do get easier and things do get better, but there are also challenges. "I'm hoping to bring a little more depth to what that journey is, and Ugly in our version of the show is real- ly hopeful, really positive and really smart. We've keyed into the fact that he's misunderstood and made fun of, but he doesn't let it keep him from learning and trying to experience the world." It's an important message these days with more awareness around bul- lying, and people who are marginalized and racialized looking for more under- standing. "My character has been marginal- ized and really misunderstood," said Carroll. "It's not hard to draw parallels to society, and we think everyone in the audience will identify with a moment in their life where they felt the same way." While the production of Honk! isn't a panto like the ones that usually play at Drayton during the Christmas sea- son, it was created in London's West End and has a lot of moments where Carroll breaks down the fourth wall and directly appeals to the audience. "My character has quite a relation- ship with the audience," said Carroll. "I'm the audience's way into the story, and I talk to the audience and look to the audience a lot to foster a connec- tion with them. "It's not your traditional panto, but you got a lot of similar characteristics to a panto. "Even the villain is one of those villains that audiences love, because he plays it up for them. It wouldn't be too far o� from what the audience has come to expect." Carroll said he doesn't mind being busy this Christmas, especially with a production that taps into the youthful innocence we all like to celebrate at this time of year. � e cast also includes 28 local kids in the show, and the older cast mem- bers like the mentorship opportunities it presents. "It's so inspiring to me and the other cast members to watch them have this experience and learn the pro- cess," said Carroll. "It's special to be someone older playing someone's who is really growing up before our eyes and inspiring kids along the way to do that." Carroll said he's looking forward to being part of a lot of local families' tra- dition, who usually sell out this holiday production and use it as part of the way they celebrate the Christmas season. "It's a great time to be part of some- thing so family friendly," said Carroll. "With more than 40 people as part of this cast, we're looking forward to hav- ing a lot of fun with the audience." For more information, visit www. draytonentertainment.com. SUBMITTED PHOTO Nathan Caroll, who starred in last year's Drayton production of Marathon of Hope: The Musical, returns to the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse to star as Ugly in the family musical about the ugly duckling called Honk! From the latest information on local politics, to minor sports scores and what's going on down the street, get it all online. CURRENT. COMMUNITY. 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