Testimonials
“I have watched the show and loved it (on DVD). … I wanted to say how very much I loved the performance of Duck for a Day. I was simply amazed at what you did with it. You were a fantastic Mrs Melvino and a gorgeous Noah. It was just so clever - the way you did it with such a small cast and minimal props. I had no idea such a thing was possible. I still can't get the songs out of my head - aQUAtic! It's become an ear worm... I couldn't be more thrilled…. I really did love it to an unreasonable degree. There were points at which the characters, or certain story elements, were presented differently to the way I imagine them, but I find that fascinating in itself - I'm really interested in the adaptation process and to what extent the new format creates its own text rather than a 'version' always relative to the original, if you like. It's also useful to me to reflect on the way things are in my head versus what actually made it onto the page. It's easy to forget that there's a whole invisible world behind the characters that no one sees but me and it's so interesting to see how they come across to others. I also loved the little talk you did at the end; was really glad that part got filmed as well….Thanks again, Meg” Meg McKinlay, Author “Duck For a Day”
“The show was fantastic and enjoyed immensely by students and teachers alike. It was very entertaining and followed the storyline from the book very accurately and effectively. The characters were brought to life beautifully by the performers. All in all, a very worthwhile experience for the students.... The performance was engaging and thoroughly enjoyed by the students who attended. The children enjoyed the interaction, and the children were able to follow the story through having read the book.” Malek Fahd Islamic School, Greenacre, NSW
“Congratulations on such a great theatre production which you managed in such a tight time frame. It was excellent. All very positive and enthusiastic comments from both staff and students. Kasey and Matt did a fantastic job - well done to you all. We are looking forward to next year now.” Mansfield State School, QLD
“Clever use of puppets and props... Students were very engaged... They really enjoyed the songs... Selected appropriate sections of story to dramatize... Interaction with students was good. They liked being asked to click and call the duck... Clever improvising when school announcement made... Great first performance!... Good explanation of dramatic techniques during question and answer time.... Great diction and expression, props and puppetry excellent... Obviously well-rehearsed, good pace, volume level was good too...Humour was pitched really well. Well done! Would highly recommend your show... Very accurate to the text... Voices audible and captivating for the students... Children’s attention indicates the effectiveness of actors. Their text was also very clear... Mrs Melvino - great character acting... Simple props very effective... Excellent production... Great to talk to audience at the end to explain choice of book and also about acting.... Good use of sound effect and music... Use of puppets was very entertaining... The actors spoke clearly and easy for students to understand... I like the character "Mrs Melvino" because she's funny. When she talks and acts she's got the student's FULL attention... Singing with music was very good... The music, different characters and your great acting helped students to use their imagination and tune in with the story... Wonderful show! I really enjoyed it... Great performance Tony and Rebekah!... A brilliant show which the children absolutely loved! They were engaged the whole time... The props then singing, not just talking made it more enjoyable... The use of comedy was great - for the children who understood, especially when Noah wasn't really knocked out... It was great that the actors moved around the perimeter of the group as it further engaged the audience... we loved the way the characters improvised and used the loud speaker announcement into their performance, it was funny! There was a great laugh from all of us... An ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT SHOW!... Extremely engaging, entertaining and funny, well done!!... Thank you so very much! Keep doing these awesome shows!!!” Grade 3 - Grade 6 Teachers, Resurrection PS, Keysborough, VIC
“Fabulous performance! The students loved the characters, the puppetry and the songs! Mrs Melvino was outrageous. Loved it and will look forward to another production.” (Teacher/Librarian)... “I was as engrossed as the kids. Loved the staging, props, and costumes. The actors were spell binding. Thank you.” (Yr 6 teacher)... “Students totally engrossed in production. Intrigued by the use of props, accents and song.” ~ (Yr 5 teacher)... “Fantastic performance. It was comical, fun, and well executed. I was just as engrossed as the children. I loved the duck. Great prop!! Actors were full of enthusiasm.” ~ (Yr 5 teacher) St Patrick's PS, North Parramatta, NSW
“The kids enjoyed it and I think it would be great to have him back next year. Very entertaining, loved the duck!" Grade 5 & 6 Teachers, Goulburn Valley Grammar School, Shepparton, VIC
“A great performance of the book. Entertaining but remaining true to the book. Very entertaining and fabulous interpretation... Highly engaging. Imaginatively interpreted. Loved the fun improvisation too! The characters were brought to life. "Max" was wonderfully utilised as "Mrs Melvino" used the audience as the cast. The kids were completely absorbed. Sound effects and music added to the atmosphere. Always amazed at what you can achieve with 2 people and a screen!... Totally engaging for the children and the adults. Music pieces were great - really broke up the presentation. Great interpretation of the book. Great acting as usual. I detected a little bit of "little Britain" in Mrs Melvino. Was she modelled on one of the two ladies?... Great use of puppets. Involved the audience – kept their attention. Sound system was clear. Adaption of story was well done. Music fitted in well with the story.... Very well presented and entertaining. Kids were very engaged and enjoyed the performance. I like the discussion about the book at the end.... Sound system fantastic. Great scene changes. Excellent adaption of the story. I liked the use of the props. I thoroughly enjoyed the production and I am sure the students did as well... Good interaction with the audience. I like the combination of music and acting. Interesting themes in book.” Wattle Park PS, Burwood, VIC
“Girls were engaged and captivated by the performance, use of puppets, humour, dance and song fabulous. Sound effects great. Performance from actors excellent. Talk by Tony at end (was) valuable as an educational tool. Staff and students all enjoyed this great show. Would book again and recommend to others. Thank you!” Yr 7 Librarian, Gilmore Girls College, Footscray, VIC
“Well acted, very professional, timed well! Thank you.” Teacher/Librarian, Bossley Park High School, NSW
“Very interactive. Students loved the enthusiasm and energy of the production - and the actors. Clearly you knew your lines well and the change of costumes and your ability to get into character was excellent. Great use of props and nifty changeover of props - great! The performance clearly reflected the book and really made the story come to life. Looking forward to next year’s production! P.S Great interaction with the crowd.” Grade 5 & 6 Unit Leader, Hartwell PS, Camberwell, VIC
"Excellent, students really enjoyed this story. Wonderful props. Well done!... Children absorbed following story line well. Simple props - works well... The children were totally engrossed, the props and storyline resonated with the children's interests and humour." Tinonee PS, Taree Area, NSW
"Great performance... Wonderful, the students loved it... A very talented duo. Children are engrossed and appear to be thoroughly enjoying it." Chatham PS, Taree Area, NSW
"Interesting story, children appeared to really enjoy it.... Well done! Songs added to the performance.... Engaged the children well, they loved interacting with the duck. Well done!!!" Cundletown PS, Taree Area, NSW
"Fantastic. Totally engaging. Very valuable. Well done.... Great show. Children obviously enjoyed it. Good message, loved the puppets... All children were engaged. Both actors were articulate and brought the students into the experience of narrative through drama." Manning Gardens PS, Taree Area, NSW
“The performance was engaging and exciting. It maintained children’s interest and the characters were very entertaining. It was an excellent representation of the book. The set was clever and the kids like the costumes (puppets).” Year 5 teachers, Evatt PS, ACT
“A very enjoyable performance. Well performed and great audience involvement which children enjoyed. I like the props and character changes. Thanks... Children engaged throughout. Good crowd interaction, Cheers.” St Macartans Parish PS, Mornington, VIC
“Very true to the book – using direct speech from the book – well developed characters of Noah and Abbey. Simple props and costumes worked well. “The Duck” was a very effective prop. Audience involvement well done.” Mansfield State School, Mansfield, QLD
“Congratulations to Matt and Kasey for wonderful
performances of these stories. Feedback from teachers was very positive and the
children loved all the shows. The library funds these shows each year (since
2010) as part of a literacy program which is funded by Communities for Children
(an Australian Government program to support families with children aged 0 - 12
years). I believe this is an important part of our program as it gives all
Primary children in our area the opportunity to experience live theatre based on
high quality Australian Children's Literature.” Community Outreach Librarian,
Greater Taree City Library, NSW
“Easy to work with. Co-operative and worked within the schools limitations. Performance engaged children from the start – very engaging... Good to have read the story in previous weeks. Puppets (duck in particular) really effective and engaging, the children loved it. The story choice relates to the children’s own experiences... Very engaging. Students all interested... Lots of fun for all ages... A good variety of resources used to tell the story, very clever... Very interesting with the role play of the different personalities, voices, costumes etc. engaging also with singing and actions. Thanks for organizing this performance... Students enjoyed the interaction. Age appropriate. Great acting and improvisation... Props were funny and inventive. Noah’s legs over the fence were good humour. Coming around to the back of the crowd with Max was excellent – the students were excited... Props and sets worked well, interaction with children was positive. Actors clear, fun and entertaining. Really enjoyable!... Entertaining and engaging for all age ranges. Excellent use of stage area and props. Puppets and Max were very funny... Interesting and entertaining. The children were enthralled to see a book come to life in a live performance... Good variety of props – puppets, change of scenery ease. Good, clear voices. Very funny movements. All students were engaged.” St Therese PS, Mascot, NSW
“Very well presented and great to see logistics of props and costuming to enable scene changes. Excellent too to see close following of the original text." Queenwood Junior School Medway Library, Mosman, NSW
“Fantastic!! Age appropriate!! Children all engaged!... Just wonderful, really a great take off of the story. Both Mrs. Melvino and Abby gave an amazing performance, very true to the book. Grade 3’s loved the story and the performers... Children entertained and the performers were lively and enthusiastic. Great... Entertaining. Nice story. Great duck.... Very smooth scene transitions. Liked the way you involved the children... Fantastic. The children were very engaged,” Sandringham East PS, Sandringham East, VIC
“I had a senior class after the show – they appreciated the preparation involved to stage such a show – they have just completed a major musical production themselves! We enjoyed the songs – very musical. Many thanks!... My children enjoyed the show – was aimed well at middle school age group. Particularly good was the use of props, costumes, set and chat after the show. My children were inspired to create their own plays. Thanks!” Camberwell South PS, Camberwell, VIC
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Firstly, it was gorgeous. It was so well done - so cleverly adapted, so professionally and engagingly presented. The kids in the audience were clearly completely absorbed by the show. Then at the end, Tony talked about the book - why they chose it and how they adapted it, which I found really interesting and which in fact taught me a bit about narrative structure, and what I was doing without even realising it.