Pix Fix
While raising children, Denise Meagher, a returning area native, became a published freelance writer, voice over talent and enthusiastic community theatre participant. She loves reading, writing, traveling, time with friends and most of her family and empty-nesting with husband, Ted.
The Ugly Years
We can all relate, can't we?
Mine? Sixth - ninth grade; a time of great upheaval. Not only was I navigating the murky waters of adolescence; with my family's disassemble by divorce and reassemble via remarriage, but I hated the way I looked.
I had crooked teeth with no hope for braces in sight. Not in the budget. Add poor eyesight to the list. Glasses were thrust upon me; not the wire rims that were the up and coming 'in' thing, but those cheaper, homely, black-rimmed ones with the slight point at the outer edges. Talk about ugly!
Add to that mousey brown hair and goofy home-spun haircuts, pale-as-vanilla-ice-cream skin and the fact that I perpetually resembled someone younger than I was. I wasn't allowed to wear make-up until I was fifteen. Having a driving need to survive I reverted to subterfuge and covert make-up applications. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.
Me and others alike were also subjected to peers who were outwardly striking or popular, but were so tainted by inward meanness it made them truly ugly. Unfortunately, 'they' still exist and some still do their best to keep the rest of us intimidated, but hey, I found a cure; high school reunions. Having attended both my ten and twenty, it was enormously satisfying to discover that I and those like me - the once feeling-ugly-and-awkward youths, had emerged rather swan-like. Likewise, the ones who had been the "populars" - those who'd preened and pranced through the halls bullying the "unpopulars", (if you've watched Glee, you know what I mean), well - a lot of them hadn't weather well.
And, there were those who were unmistakably beautiful or pretty or handsome, yet wrestled with ugly. Some still do.
WCT's current production, Honk, the musical retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen story The Ugly Duckling, memorably portrays this all too familiar struggle as it revolves around Ugly, his tearful mother, his dad, who 'ducks' his responsibilities, a gaggle of comical geese, a sly tomcat, a wisecracking bullfrog, and lots of 'fowl' puns.
Director, Jacob Sudbrink says, The Ugly Duckling is a story we all can relate to. There has been a time in everyone's life where they just don't fit in... To have a show that is able to relate to everyone's life is an awesome thing. Find yourself on stage, whether you are the over-loving parent, the parents' friend who just doesn't get it, the group of "bully's" who don't want to understand, or the outcast himself. I guarantee that you're on that stage." He's right.
Join Ugly in his quest to discover that even though he's different, he can hold his head up high. Ugly's journey is timeless and uplifting as it aids in dispelling the 'uglies' in those who have the ears to hear and eyes to see. It's a story of hope.
Honk runs July 16-25, 2010 and is a summer PIX FIX the whole 'flock' can enjoy. Hope you'll join us!
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