Valley Artists

Date: 30 October to 7 November 2009
Category: Performances

A A Milne's play The Ugly Duckling will open October 30 at Laguna Hall, with performances on October 31, and November 1, 5, 6, 7.

A one act play, written c.1941, which takes a lighthearted look at the conceptions of the status quo. Unlike H C Andersen's fairytale, this has no animals or birds and is a story for all ages to enjoy.

A King and a Queen have a hard time marrying their daughter, an ugly princess. "Her beauty is certainly elusive, Your Majesty!" "Yes, it has eluded you, it has eluded me, it has eluded everyone who has met her." They devise a scheme to marry her to a prince from a far away land.

Directed by Cordelia Howell, this gives some of our younger artists a chance to strut their stuff. All the cast are aged 16 or under. Not that this is a play just for children - well, if you think Winnie-the-Pooh is just for children you may think this is too. But this play has no bewildered bear, no bouncing tigger, no depressed donkey - no ducks either. It's a play about the importance of physical beauty - or not!

When David Kilpatrick produced the play in New York recently, he said ''It's a hilarious play, and I wanted it to have a life. It's really a very simple story about true love and having confidence."

Tickets are available from Wollombi and Laguna stores, or you can download a booking form from www.valleyartists.org.

Providing opportunities for aspiring actors is an important part of our work. A series of acting workshops held over the last few months by Mouse McGuire were attended by 12 children and 6 adults - so there's a lot of talent waiting in the wings!

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