A tight script, good acting, and lively musical numbers all contributed to make the school production of “The Addams Family” a fun, memorable affair.
Starring Fredo Fosco as Gomez, Lindsey Lebeda as Morticia, and Sarah Durbin as Wednesday, this retelling of “The Addams Family” focuses on Wednesday falling in love with a “normal” boy named Lucas Beineke, played by Christian Clements. After confessing to her father that she intends to marry Lucas, Wednesday insists on getting the family to act normal for just one meal with the Beineke family, to ensure that the families get along. Naturally, hijinks ensue, secrets are revealed, and life lessons are learned.
While the plot of the musical is fairly basic, the script is able to balance humor, heart, and self-awareness to overcome any structural shortcomings. Some well-timed and culturally relevant political jokes were injected throughout, allowing the show to feel updated for a 2017 audience.
Every musical number was fun and full of movement, and, while some jokes fell flat, there were plenty of laughs throughout. Additionally, the role of the chorus increased compared to past school musicals, leading to more intricate dances in pieces such as “Just Around the Corner”.
The entire cast performed admirably, with particularly impressive performances from Tim Berberich as Fester and Fosco as Gomez, as well as a pair of show-stopping solo numbers from Durbin (“Pulled”) and Ellie Banke as Alice Beineke (“Waiting”). Balancing gallows humor with relationship and family drama is no easy task, and the entire cast accomplished it admirably here.
Additionally, the high-quality set design, costumes, and makeup improved the show tremendously.
While background sets such as a swing hanging from a tree, a medieval torture chair, and a cart full of mysterious potions might seem like trivial additions to a show focused on punchlines and music, these small touches enrichen the story.