By: Gavin Kinsella, Gateway Regional High School, Woodbury Heights
WOODBURY HEIGHTS, N.J. — Gateway Regional High School’s Spring musical, The Addams Family will take place from March 26 to 29. Along with a performance like this comes concerns of its darker themes, and the handling of the production.
The Addams Family musical has had its share of controversy. A school within the North Lebanon District in Pennsylvania, took issue with many of its dark themes such as violence, child smoking, and torture/self harm. Although some of these scenes might be slightly altered in Gateway’s performance, it will largely be kept the same.
The musicals performed at Gateway are examined by the school board before they are given the okay to start production. The board decides on whether it’s appropriate for the audience while also reflecting the school’s standards.
Gateway Regional High School Principal Jeff Pierro stated, “I think that art is supposed to make us look at societal issues and problems, make it appropriate but give as much expression to be true to the art.”
Pierro added that Gateway would like to not censor it, but if need be, create alterations. Since it is a piece of art, it should be taken as one that reflects those issues rather than promoting them, according to Pierro. The majority of the musical’s script has been kept as is with only a few lines or words seen as inappropriate being cut.
The director, Paul Sommers, attributes it to being like a fright attraction. “Elements of the show are similar to a haunted house and are not problematic,” Sommers said.
The most amount of change could come from the elementary school viewing of the musical. For its Spring play, Gateway will have elementary schools within the nearby areas come and see the show. Certain scenes or the formating would be changed to make it more appropriate for their age group.
Aside from the themes there is also the question of how the production itself is underway. It has a large cast of 53 actors and bigger musical numbers. Rehearsals of the first act are close to completion. The actors rehearse five times a week, focusing on a mix of music, blocking, and choreography. Saturdays tend to be their most productive rehearsal days.
They begin with a slower rehearsal for the first half, focusing on its bigger show stopping numbers. The second half is faster rehearsed and takes place closer to the performance days. A faster second half could come from the actors better understanding the role and direction they want to act.
Allison Eckstein who will portray Morticia Addams said that getting started is always the hardest part. “Beginning is always difficult, you’re just starting out, you don’t have the vision yet,” Eckstein said.
The other half of the Addams’ couple, Gomez, is played by Jack Patrick. He said that finding the character’s accent is a difficult point, but he’s found a good place to take it.
Eckstein says that this show is a fun one, and everyone on the team is putting in their best efforts to create a memorable and enjoyable show for all.
With each week of rehearsal completed, the show gets closer. You can follow the production on Facebook as GRHS Fine & Performing Arts, and make sure to be on the lookout for ticket sales in the near future.
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