‘Honk!’ brings feathered fun back to MVT

A tomcat disguised as a duck is trying to convince a skeptical hen that he is the father of the runaway duckling that has turned up at the hen’s house looking for a place to stay. Just as the cat persuades the chicken to give up the fugitive duckling, the hen’s best friend, a female cat, arrives on the scene. The tomcat tries desperately to keep his hormones in check but his desire for a piece of duck is overwhelmed by his desire for, let’s say, female cat companionship.

Yeeeeoooooowllllllllllllllll!

Welcome to Manoa Valley Theatre’s revival production of "Honk!," a contemporary musical based loosely on Hans Christian Andersen’s classic story of an outcast "ugly duckling" who survives rejection and physical abuse and grows up to be a beautiful swan. As told by English playwrights Anthony Drewe and George Stiles, the story is about the adventures and misadventures of a "duckling" named Ugly who is pursued by a hungry cat named Cat. Ugly’s adventures begin in a farm yard where everyone except his mother teases him because he isn’t normal. As his adventures continue he meets a flock of wild geese, a family of bullfrogs, a skeptical hen and a seductive female cat.

Drewe and Stiles replace most of the darker content of Anderson’s story with songs and dances. Kids will be entertained by the colorful characters. Adults will enjoy some subtle bits and pieces that kids won’t fully appreciate.

MVT’s first production of "Honk!" won four Po‘okela Awards from the Hawai‘i State Theatre Council — including best overall musical — in 2003.

"Honk!" opens at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. For more information or tickets, call 988-6131 or visit www.manoavalleytheatre.com.

Event will let families try sports of all kinds

Families that enjoy sports will get a kick out of the ESPN 1420 Sports Festival June 30 — not just a kick, but a throw, a run, a spike and any number of sports-related actions as well.

The event will feature a variety of free sports demonstrations and clinics, addressing sports such as football, basketball, soccer, volleyball, tennis, golf, mini-golf, in-line hockey and rock-climbing, said Mike Kelly, president and general manager of ESPN 1420, which is sponsoring the event along with Kaiser Permanente.

Kelly said former University of Hawaii assistant football coach and new Kaiser High head coach Rich Miano wil be holding sessions on improving speed and quickness.

A "Keiki Combine" will give youngsters an experience similar to the NFL combine. It will consist of three or four timed exercises, such as running through a rope ladder or performing an agility drill, said Doris Sullivan of the Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance, which is conducting the combine.

There will also be a professional wrestling exhibition, prize giveaways and a sports marketplace with about 75 vendors. Proceeds from the event will benefit nonprofit youth organizations in Hawaii and the Oahu Interscholastic Association.

Kelly said the last festival, held in 2010, attracted about 2,000 people. The festival runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Blaisdell Exhibition Hall. Admission is $4 for adults, free to children ages 15 and under.

Art museum workshops will nurture young minds

Budding artists will be given the opportunity to emulate master painters and learn the art of dyeing in two Honolulu Museum of Art workshops this summer at Spalding House.

In the three-day Expression Session workshop, artist Lauren Okano will guide kids ages 5 to 12 through the process of making an accordion drawing or painting.

Children will first study the works of master painters. Next they explore and sketch in the museum gardens. Finally, they will blend their pieces to create their final project.

Cost for the class, which runs from 10 a.m. to noon on July 1, 8 and 22, is $45, $30 for members.

In August, kids may return to learn natural indigo dyeing, including Japanese shibori dyeing, which is similar to Western tie-dyeing.

Fresh leaves of indigo plants and silk handkerchiefs will be used in the class from 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 5. Cost is $15, $10 members.

To register for either, contact Seng Phengsavath at 237-5230 or seng@honolulumuseum.org.