Rockin' Riff on a Fable

by Kimberly Colburn

Have you ever yearned for the spotlight? Sung out loud, even if it's only in the shower? Wondered what it would be like to achieve pop culture superstardom? In Lucky Duck, a modern musical revamp of the Ugly Duckling fable, Serena is an ugly duckling (literally) who loves to sing but has been told over and over again that she's just not pretty enough to achieve her dreams of pop stardom.

The play takes place once upon a time in a peculiar little Kingdom filled with all sorts of animals who can talk, sing, and do complicated choreography. The Kingdom is ruled by birds—and canines are second-class citizens. While the Kingdom is dealing with a frightening series of mysterious wolf attacks, the King announces a contest to find the best songbird in the land. His superficial son Drake quickly adjusts the contest to a test of talent AND beauty, so that he can find the feminine fowl best suited to his exacting standards. Serena is told she's not qualified to compete, no matter how good her voice is. She's different from everyone in her family, and her mother finally reveals she's a foundling. Upset by the news, Serena flees to the forest.

A chance meeting in the forest with a slick agent (and alleged vegetarian), Wolf, gives Serena the gumption to go for her dreams. Serena decides to escape the fowl days of barnyard mockery and seek her special destiny in New Duck City with the suspiciously friendly Wolf. Serena's in for an adventure as she learns how to navigate a world obsessed with looks and how to bridge the divide between the birds and the carnivores.

Lucky Duck was written by Bill Russell and Jeffrey Hatcher, with music by Henry Krieger, lyrics by Bill Russell and orchestrations by Harold Wheeler. Krieger is best known as the composer of Dreamgirls. He and Russell previously worked together on the critically acclaimed Broadway musical Sideshow. Krieger and Russell originated the concept for Lucky Duck and then brought in playwright Jeffrey Hatcher to help refine the piece (SCR produced the West Coast premiere of Hatcher's play Three Viewings in 1996).

Russell explains their inspiration: "Lucky Duck came out of our love for old-fashioned musical comedy. We hoped to create a vehicle for comic actors to have some fun in a mad-cap context with characters who were animals. And, most especially, to supply rockin', sexy, bluesy songs for them to stretch their vocal chords around and (dare we say) 'strut' their stuff."

The piece originated as a show intended for adults and was later reconceived for young audiences. "My feeling has been that this piece is so much for adults and young people," Krieger said. "It has a resonance for each of them in different ways. I think it's simultaneously reaching out to two different wavelengths, but as one. It's really a good-hearted show, and it says, basically, make the most of who you are."

SCR's production of this modern riff on a fairy tale will be directed by Art Manke. Manke received his fifth Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for directing SCR's West Coast premiere of Bach at Leipzig in 2006. Other work with SCR includes Noises Off, Taking Steps and the world premiere musical version of The Wind in the Willows, as well as choreography for numerous productions.

Previews of Lucky Duck begin February 11 on the Julianne Argyros Stage, and performances continue through February 27. SCR offers a special performance on February 19 which features an earlier curtain time of 11 a.m. and lower-priced tickets. SCR is proud to continue the tradition of free weekday matinee performances to Orange County schoolchildren. For more information on weekday school matinees, contact Janis Morrissette at 714-708-5549. 

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