By Jamie Strickland
The jokes and musical notes landed just right with an enthusiastic audience at the recent West Johnston High School production of The Addams Family: A New Musical Comedy.
The production was a beautifully melded collaboration within the Fine Arts Department. Students with amazing vocal talent, a live orchestra in the pit, choreographed dancers, set design artists and lighting and sound technicians all came together for a performance that was both funny and sentimental, and in true Addams Family form, a little bit creepy.
The musical told the story of Wednesday Addams falling in love with a boy from a very different type of family…a family from…Ohio! The two wanted to get married, but first they had to get their families on board.
The rest of the play told the story of a father, Gomez Addams, who was torn between his daughter and his wife, a brother, Pugsly Addams, who was afraid of losing his big sister and a mother, Mortitia Addams, who feared growing distant from both her husband and daughter.
Meanwhile, the boyfriend, Lucas Beineke and his family had struggles of their own. Lucas was terrified of growing up to be boring like his father Mal, and his mother Alice missed the spark her marriage once had.
While each family had their own internal conflict, they tried to wrap their minds around joining together with a family so very different from their own.
The boisterous and chaotic Fester Addams, the weathered but still kicking Grandma Addams, Lurch (the butler…but don’t say that to his face!) and a whole ensemble of deceased ancestors from the catecombs rounded out the cast.
In the end they found a way to make it work in unique Addams Family style.
The student actors commanded the stage with confidence and grace beyond their years, and the audience rewarded them with laughter and applause.
“Through it all, this cast and crew have proven their dedication and I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve conjured together, said Director and Fine Arts Department Chair Joshua Johnson. “This year marks my eighth year directing and I am endlessly grateful for the people who have shaped my journey.”
West Johnston’s Fine Arts department will stage another production this year. On May 8 – 10 Six: The Musical, Teen Edition will take the stage. The public is welcome to attend.
The Addams Family Cast:
Jacob Southern as Gomez Addams
Hannah Torentino as Morticia Addams
Olivia Torentino as Wednesday Addams
Caleb Humphrey as Pugsly Addams
Violet Whoolery as Fester Addams
Kennedy Mack as Grandma Addams
Connor Kneeshaw as Lurch
Lake Taylor as Lucas Beineke
Ava Wilson as Alice Beineke
Paul Laleicke as Mal Beineke
Ancestors:
Noah Pfeif, Aeisha Ismail, Cassidy Weal, Attelyn Chachkes, Noah Mabolo, Athalia Jones, Josie Parish, Jackson Liles, Amberly Davidson, Amori Bolton, Fallon Ryan, Jaden Bingaman, Natalee Bailey, Aaniya Herndon
Stage and Music Direction by Joshua Johnson
Orchestral Direction by Jessica Leighton
Choreography by Kaylah Preston-Durham
Set Design by Nathaniel Wicks
