The fringe run of the musical comedy by composer Brian Feinstein and lyricist-librettist Diana Hansen-Young plays the Player's Theatre, 115 MacDougal Street, Aug. 13-25.
Mimi Le Duck "showcases the talents of eight performers as they examine art, love, ducks, and Ernest Hemingway."
No, the show does not feature a group of anthropomorphic characters singing and dancing in duck costumes, composer Feinstein told Playbill On-Line. "People are not dressed as ducks; it's a coming of age story," he said, adding that the flavor of the score ranges from Little Shop of Horrors to The Sound of Music.
"It's quirky, romantic, very fantastical, but very real...not surreal," Feinstein explained.
Miriam, played by The Full Monty's Annie Golden, "is a mother and wife who lives in Idaho, and paints ducks for the QVC channel but dreams of the artist's life she never led. She flees to Paris and begins a bohemian existence among a group of colorful characters." Prior to the NY Fringe, The Adirondack Theatre Festival in Glens Falls, New York, ended its 10th season with the Mimi Le Duck, July 21-31. Thomas Caruso, associate director of Broadway's Bombay Dreams and resident director of Las Vegas' Mamma Mia!, directs the Fringe run (as he did for ATF).
Mimi Le Duck also features Robert DuSold, Allen Fitzpatrick, Donald Grody, Bryan Scott Johnson, Nada Rowand, Louis Tucci and Kristine Zbornik, repeating their ATF work.
Chris Fenwick is musical director. The composer said he and his creative team hope to land at an Off-Broadway theatre eventually.
Golden's recent Broadway credits include originating the role Georgie Bukatinsky in the Tony Award-nominated musical The Full Monty, plus On the Town and Ah! Wilderness.
Designers are Andy Warfel (scenic), Chris Dallos (lighting), Carol Brys (costume) and Michael Creason (sound).
Composer Feinstein is a recipient of the Jonathan Larson Memorial Fellowship Award; and earned his MFA from the NYU Tisch Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program. Feinstien is also a member of The Dramatist's Guild and ASCAP.
Lyricist-librettist Hansen-Young is an artist and writer in Hawaii and has authored and illustrated 16 books including "Painted Paradise," released in 2004. Hansen Young has held office both in the Hawaii State Constitutional and State House of Representatives. She also earned her MFA from NYU in writing and is a published member of the Mystery Writers of America.
NY Fringe performances of Mimi Le Duck have been selling briskly. Shows play Aug. 13 at 9:15 PM, Aug. 16 at 4:30 PM, Aug. 21 at noon, Aug. 22 at 8:45 PM, Aug. 25 at 10 PM. Running time is two hours and 10 minutes.
For tickets, call (212) 212-279-4488 or visit www.fringenyc.com.
For more information about the show, visit www.mimileduck.com.
