I'm like all of those naughty fowl that never gave poor young Ugly a chance: I was presumptuous. Despite the assurances of those mounting the production and those who had seen it in the past, I assumed that the George Stiles and Anthony Drewe musical Honk!, which won an Olivier (the British equivalent of a Tony Award) as the best musical of 2000, was only a glorified children's show. After all, I reasoned, how could you make anything remotely adult culled from Hans Christian Andersen's tale of the Ugly Duckling? I discovered the error of my presumption on opening night of Broadway Palm West Dinner Theatre's mounting of this charming little musical. Not content to strictly stick to the original story, the authors have turned this bedtime story into a miniature epic musical journey of poor lost little Ugly who, chased by the hungry Cat, flees from the pond and barnyard full of fowl that mock his odd looks and begins a yearlong return to the only one who gave him a chance, his desperately searching mother. Under the smart direction of M. Seth Reines and cleverly choreographed by Christie Kerr, this 15-person cast (including a brood of 7 young 'uns) make this story of incorrect assumptions, motherly love, and self-discovery take flight.

The most compelling reason to go to this show is definitely for the production, not so much for the dinner. As this is a cusp show and the summer fare has traditionally been restricted, there's once more no attempt to link show and meal (although, in their defense, this could have lead to a lot of tasteless choices). The best of the entrees include the Carved Eye Round of Beef and the Honey Roasted Ham. The Fried Pollack Filet and the Lemon Pepper Tarragon Chicken were acceptable, but the Cheese Ravioli once again arrived in overcooked clumps. The Garlic Roasted Red Potatoes and the Green Beans Almandine were the popular side dishes at our table.

Mr. Reines and Ms. Kerr have made this a fast-paced romp through the barnyard and woodlands. Mr. Reines has stressed that the actors include tell-tale mannerisms to their characterizations, and they are all incredibly funny. From the sly spryness of Barry Anderson's slinky cat to the four distinct choices for each of Elizabeth Loos' hilarious characters, the show speaks to children while giving a knowing wink to the adults at all times. Some of the subtleties are quite impressive and above a child's reach: in one scene, Ugly wanders into an old woman's house where a domesticated cat and her equally domesticated chicken share a roof and an "understanding." Mr. Reines has done an excellent job of making sure parents and kids are equally entertained. Ms. Kerr has included several spectacular dance numbers, highlighted by a precise military presentation for Ugly's encounter with a flock of Geese and a raucous vaudeville number featuring a Toad and his tadpoles.

Save for one notable exception, the cast is consistent in their offerings of acting, song, and dance. As lost Ugly, Adam Enright is adorable. He always holds onto his character's earnestness and wide-eyed appreciation of the world. He is a very strong singer and dancer, and is a great center to this production. Johnna Allen is superb as Ugly's committed mother, Ida. Her strong voice and solid dancing is bolstered by her stalwart presentation. Mr. Anderson is equal parts funny and frightening as the Cat. His dance prowess is matched by his strong singing and enjoyable character choices. The only disappointing lead is Kreg Gotschall as Drake the father duck and Greylag the goose squadron leader. Mr. Gotschall is an impressive dancer, but his acting and singing skills are not up to the remainder of the group.

Is there anything Ms. Loos cannot do? She leads the excellent ensemble with four distinctively performed characters, while Denny McNamara is the highlight of the the second half as his Bullfrog croons the comedic number "Warts and All." Jillian Nyhan is cute both as Ida's best friend Maureen and as the domestic feline Queenie, where she is part of a funny pas de chat with Mr. Anderson. Danielle Plisz' beautiful voice highlights her performance of Penny the swan, while the children's ensemble (Brookie Allen, Jonnie Allen, Shayna Moellenberg, Alex Starks, Sarah Toller, Lindsay Wantland, and Diana Woodruff), once they got past the need to look into the audience at the start of the show opening night, really got going, and helped make "Warts and All" a treat.

Christine Peters has done a commendable job with the set and property design. She has made all things human proportionate to the evening's bird perspective, and comes up with several enjoyable choices. Russell A. Thompson's lighting is colorful without going too far, and Maureen Smith's costumes are a gem of excellent character choices.

As the end of their second season nears, it's important to note that they have survived yet another summer and are carrying steam into their third season, where they will mix some impressive debuts among the old standards. In fact, with their success, there are a few imitators heading into the valley to try and capitalize on their trailblazing. A little strategically placed competition is always healthy for theatre, and I foresee good times ahead for Broadway Palm.