Review: 'The Addams Family' by Amity High School Creative Theatre

Photo of members of the cast of ‘The Addams Family’ courtesy of Amity Creative Theatre

Dedicated to the memory of Russell Adair, Amity HS Box Office Manager 2009 - 2017 “Your memory will live on forever in this theater and with everyone whose life you touched.”

Woodbridge, CT - The Amity Creative Theater chose the gloomy but always fun musical ‘The Addams Family’ for their 2018 spring musical. The show features a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, all based upon the characters created by Charles Addams. The ever-talented high school students from Woodbridge, Bethany and Orange were directed by the dedicated team of Robert and Andrea Kennedy, with choreography by Ms. Kennedy and musical direction by Marcia Rizzotti.

‘The Addams Family’ has a relatively small cast for a musical, with only living ten characters in the two families in the story. The premise is that Wednesday Addams has met the love of her young life and Lucas Beineke is a member of a “normal” family from Ohio. The gothic girl makes her father Gomez promise not to share her plans to marry her beau with her ever-dramatic mother Morticia, who is going through a midlife crisis and an obsession with her husband being truthful with her. Add in the other “creepy and kooky” members of the Addams clan and the bewildered Beinekes and we know that the initial “meet the parents” dinner will definitely not be “One Normal Night.”

Amity is famous for doing everything in a big way, from their lobby displays that fill the hallways outside the auditorium to the 8 ½ by 11 inch, 100 page glossy program distributed at the door. So I was not surprised to see that ensemble comprised of the ghosts of Addams family ancestors had been expanded to over 30 young performers clad in fabulous white period costumes. My favorite part of the ensemble numbers was locating the various ghosts listed in the program; when they walked upon the thin catwalk that circled the orchestra pit, we were able to get a close look at the marvelously detailed outfits and makeup.

The actress playing Morticia needed assistance to bustle her tight dress in order to tango with Gomez; the choreography for the “Tango de Amor” was especially impressive. Not many musicals end Act II with the company singing a number entitled “Move Toward the Darkness,” but Amity made it work well. My companion’s favorite scene was Uncle Fester’s production number with the female ancestors for “The Moon and Me.”

“So will love triumph, or will everyone go home vaguely depressed?” - Uncle Fester

Congratulations to every single one of those ancestor ghosts that made up the large ensemble. Coming back from the dead were Blythe Reis, Rhian Alsgaard, Dylan Chizmadia, Halle Syrop, Gianna Scalora, Abigail Runda, Sophia Soldra, Antonia D’Hue, Hayden Nork, Jenna Aconfora, Kayleigh Foley, Sofia Halepas, Zoe Smith, Carly Chervenak, Joyce Zhang, Tayla Braverman, AnneMarie Driscoll, Kyle Magri, Alexander Pocwierz, Ethan Selmon, Zach Katz, Grace Blanchard, Sydney Sherrick, Annie Foley, Sophie Benjamin, Caitlin Carlson, Aoi Tischer, Lily Swain, Nico Sagnelli, Evan D’Onofrio, Dean Pocwierz, and Kayla Zamkov.

It was a joy for me to see Ryan Kennedy step into the role of Lucas Beineke; he reminded me so much of his father and was simply adorable in this role. Ryan is now an Amity freshman from Bethany; he has been performing since the age of three and previously played the younger version of the titular character in the outstanding Amity 2015 production of ‘Tarzan The Musical.’

Senior Ryan Hemstock did well in his second Amity production as Lucas’ father Mal Beineke and Alaina Dwyer, a senior from Orange, appeared in her fifth Amity production and was a convincing (to the moon) Alice Beineke. Ben Kemp, a senior from Orange, was very funny in the role of the tall butler Lurch in what will be his final production at Amity.

Amity HS junior Lilli Querker was “pumped to endure such an exciting challenge” of playing a very odd boy; she made the most of the role of younger brother Pugsley Addams. Maren Westgard, a senior from Orange, was a riot as the grandmother who may or may not be an actual member of the family. Sophomore Marty Gnidula appeared for the first time in an Amity production as the quirky Uncle Fester; this young man played viola in the pit orchestra for ‘Fiddler’ and easily transitioned to the stage in this great featured role.

Amity senior Emily Kilian (Tzeitel in ‘Fiddler on the Roof’) made the most of the role of the cross-bow wielding Wednesday Addams. This great actress with a big voice plans to study biomedical engineering next year in college.

Alexandra Ashworth, another senior from Orange, was memorable in the role of Morticia Addams who is worrying that she is turning into her mother. Ms. Ashworth voiced the Giant in ‘Into the Woods’ and was the equally gigantic Fruma-Sarah in ‘Fiddler’ last year. Senior Harrison Paek (Motel in ‘Fiddler on the Roof,’ Rapunzel’s Prince in ‘Into the Woods) has the acting chops to bring to life the big personality of Gomez Addams and sang wonderfully.

The outstanding orchestra under the direction of Phil Dolan was 32 musicians strong and as a group performed strongly on every one of the musical numbers in this show. The set designed by Ryan M. Howell took us to the Addams Family environment and lighting design by Dan Hassenmayer allowed us to still witness the action. Costumes designed by Julie Chevan and Brenda Burt were up to the usual Amity standards and wigs, hair, and makeup by Ms. Kennedy were as well.

The production team at Amity is grateful to their audiences for an incredible first weekend. Only 30 or so seats left for Thursday night. Buy online at www.amitytheaterdepartment.com . Friday and Saturday are now on a waiting list. Call (203)392-2019 to be added to the list.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues and she posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theater Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417