Not many musicals include potions to provoke one’s inner
dark side, torture apparatus, and de-blooming of flowers but The Addams Family has all that and more.
Long-standing Director Diane Smith helms a zesty production featuring a well-cast
group of performers and an excellent crew. Rachel Miller’s spot-on choreography
adds to the fun and enjoyment, and Charlotte Evans’ seven-piece orchestra
brings the score to life. (The members of the macabre Addams family would
prefer death, however.)
To be clear, this musical is not a knock-off of the loveable
and popular TV series The Addams Family
of mid-60’s yore with John Astin and Carolyn Jones as the leads. Instead, the hilarious stage show, which
features music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and book by Marshall Brickman and
Rick Elice, was patterned after the ghoulish characters in Charles Addams’
single-panel gag cartoons.
The book utilizes a highly predictable but functional sitcom
premise. The morbid and crazy Addams family—Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester,
Grandma, Wednesday, Pugsley and the butler Lurch—relies on a preoccupation with
death and darkness to provide most of the humor in the show.
A grown-up Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of
darkness, has fallen in love with Lucas Beineke—a completely sweet, normal boy
from Ohio. Wednesday invites Lucas and his strait-laced parents over for
dinner begging her family for “One Normal Night”. The core conflict ignites when Wednesday mentions
to Gomez her intent to marry and demands that he keeps this romance a secret
from Morticia, threatening the foundation of the couple’s passionately honest
marriage.
The so-called normal Beineke family from Ohio—a swing state as bellowed by
Gomez—arrive whereby parents Mal and Alice meet the Addams’s in a what-can-possibly-go-wrong scenario. This reminds me of the madcap antics that took place in the hit comedy film, The Birdcage.
Fortunately, a lot does go wrong, which forms the essence of
the story and the ensuing hilarity. The
hijinks, nuttiness and zingers, however, are largely packed into the first
act. The second act lacks that same
torrid pace and comedic punch from the first act with the characters turning to
sentimentality and reconciliation, but it is still enjoyable. In the end, the Addams clan realizes it’s too
crazy, and the Beinekes acknowledge they’re not crazy enough.
Andrew Lippa’s score is the true heartbeat of the show. It seamlessly blends traditional Broadway show tunes, vaudeville numbers, and vibrant Latin-pop rhythms that perfectly match Gomez’s fiery heritage. Stand out songs include, “When You’re an Addams,” “Trapped,” “Pulled,” “One Normal Night,” “Full Disclosure,” “Crazier Than You,” and the good advice song “Let’s Live Before We Die.”
The BTCT production of The Addams Family is led by
its exceptional cast. As much as comedy dominates the show, the vocals and
choreography are stellar. Wonderfully varied choreography is exemplified in
such numbers as “When You’re an Addams,” “Just Around the Corner”— the spectacular
upbeat tap number led by Morticia that finds joy in mortality, and the superb
tango piece “Tango De Amor.” Choreographer Rachel Miller is meticulous and
creative in these numbers, and the performers executed the steps proficiently.
On stage throughout either in its
entirety or in small groups, are The Ancestors.
It is a clever spectral ensemble that serves as a Greek chorus, brought
back from the crypt to ensure true love wins. They participate in the
production numbers.
Ghoulish all, they are attired in chalky white costumes and wigs, with pasty white make-up. They include a wide spectrum of characters from Marie Antoinette (an ancestor really?) to a Cowboy, to a Pirate to a Naval Officer to a Caveman—14 in all.
The costuming is spectacular overall and was designed by a
team whose names are included in the list along with the cast and production
staff at the conclusion of the review. Morticia’s black, elegant ankle-length gown is
right on brand; Wednesday dark macabre dress suits her to a tee. But clearly
the Ancestors’ attire is simply magnificent.
Evan Margolis and his team crafted a wonderful set featuring a rendering of a gothic house in the background with other spooky-looking decorations along the
sides. Multiple set pieces are used and are essential to the scene changes.
Thomas Gardner’s lighting design is spectacular highlighting
the myriad moods of the dialogue and songs. There was such a variety of colors projected on the background scenery it appeared that a box of crayons was the blueprint.
"Long-standing Director Diane Smith helms a zesty production featuring a well-cast group of performers and an excellent crew."
Brian Mellen is superb in portraying Gomez Addams. He
commands the stage with his well-timed rejoinders, gestures and a rich baritone
voice. Mr. Mellen is particularly strong in singing “Trapped,” the sweet ballad
“Happy Sad,” “Not Today” and “Let’s Live Before We Die”.
His comedic skills are a big part of the show using body
language, facial expressions and timing.
This is evident in his portrayal of Gomez as he is challenged to placate
Morticia because he kept a certain secret from her (she abhors secrecy) and as
mentioned previously, it is a key plotline.
Nicole Smith as Morticia is sensational in the role. She
demonstrates her strong vocal prowess in “Secrets” and the group number “Just
Around the Corner”. Ms. Smith acts with
passion and conveys the character’s varied moods so adroitly. Morticia gives a
lot of grief to Gomez and was convincing in doing so. Their onstage repartee is
excellent.
Wednesday Addams, played by Bella Comotto, is believable in
demonstrating her sadism towards her younger brother Pugsley and her desire to
marry Lucas (played earnestly by Cormac O’Malley). She displays passion in her
conflicts with her parents and Lucas and does so without going over the top. Her powerful vocals are evident in “Pulled” -- a standout solo exploring her horrifying new urge to smile and “Crazier Than You.”
Luke DiBello plays younger brother Pugsley and commands a
good range in his vocals (“What If,”) and solid comedic instincts. These traits
bode well for this young man’s future in musical theatre.
Kendra Keiser plays the comedic and eccentric Grandma. Whose
mother is she, nobody knows. You can laugh by merely looking at her.
Rounding out the Addams clan is Brian Singer as Uncle Fester
who discovers he is in love with the moon and Bill Kohlhoff as the near silent,
methodically plodding Lurch. Both play
their respective characters to the hilt. Mr. Singer performs well in his love
song “The Moon and Me” and does a good job in “But Love” and “Fester’s
Manifesto”.
Alex Frasier in the role of Mal Beineke, Lucas’ father,
excels as a control-freak whose marriage was about to collapse from deceit and
other maladies. He needed to be crazier,
and where would be a better place to start other than the Addams’ mansion in the
middle of Central Park? Mr. Frazier’s singing
voice shines in the group number “Crazier Than You.”
His wife Alice, played energetically by Kerry Jungwirth, is
seemingly victimized by Mal’s bland personality. She had turned to random
rhymes for solace, and their marital problems seem to work out at the end. Ms. Jungwirth also performs well in the
hilarious number “Crazier Than You.”
Lucus Beineke was well played by Cormac O'Malley. His enthusiasm is on display and moves energetically around the stage. Mr. O'Malley's connection and chemistry with Bella Comotto's Wednesday character is strong. He succeeds in singing "One Normal Night (part 2)".
The Addams Family at BTCT is totally entertaining on many
levels, and you will count your blessings that you’re not a relative of that
kooky but loveable family. Full disclosure: If you need a laugh or two (or a
hundred), this one’s for you. How can you not love a show with the line “Lucas,
get your mother off the table”?
Running time. Two hours and 30 minutes with an intermission.
The remaining productions of The Addams Family are on August 19 at 7:00 p.m. and 23 at 2:00 p.m. at the H. Morton Rosen Arts Center located at Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School, 3300 Old Court Rd., Pikesville, MD 21208. Tickets can be purchased by visiting online.
Photos: Kelly Williams Carlson
No comments:
Post a Comment