By: Bailey Kurtz, Cedar Creek High School, Egg Harbor City
PINE HILL, N.J. — When you’re an Addams, you’re in for anything but one normal night! Full disclosure: in Overbrook High School‘s production of The Addams Family, you’re in for a story of love, secrets, and hilarious one-liners.
The Addams Family musical premiered in 2010, featuring music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. It ran on Broadway for almost two years and received multiple award nominations. The show puts a spooky twist on the iconic characters created by Charles Addams. Amidst a new love discovered by Wednesday for her “normal” boyfriend, the Addams family must accept change and realize the importance of love, all while staying true to their quirky nature. The musical offers toe-tapping numbers and plenty of dark humor, reminding us that even unconventional families have their unique charm.
The cast and crew of Overbrook High School’s production of The Addams Family effectively utilized the set and tech to add an extra flare of spookiness to the production and their captivating ensemble of actors maintained an eerie energy throughout the entire show, truly bringing the story to life.
Xavier Vargas, who portrayed Gomez Addams, continuously captivated the audience’s attention with his skillful comedic timing. He skillfully portrayed the growth of Gomez’s character throughout the story, especially with the challenge of an accent. His performance was complemented by Savannah Mitchel, who played Morticia Addams, through her spookily wonderful characterization of her role. The two of them had wonderful chemistry that progressed throughout the entirety of the show. It was also lovely to see her chemistry with her children, Wednesday (Kairi Serrano) and Pugsley (Hailey Hans), grow stronger and stronger with every new scene.
Tyler Blaylock, who played Lucas, brought lively energy and intentional motivation to his character from the moment he stepped on to the stage. His vocals were impeccable and beautifully glided on the waves of the music every time he sang. Jeremy Davis, who played Uncle Fester, was brilliant. Through his comedic timing, zany actions, and excellent ukulele skills, he captivated the audience’s attention every moment he was present and was truly a joy to watch shine.
The technical aspects of the show were clever as well. The house set was eye-catching with its vibrant colors, a real contrast to the Addams’ costumes. The creative touch of the graves with punny names were also a nice touch. The lighting of this show was also well crafted, especially in the song “Trapped,” where the lights skillfully depicted the inner conflicts taking over Gomez’s mind.
Through its memorable songs and hilarious jokes, the cast and crew of Overbrook High School’s production of The Addams Family left the audience happy they didn’t stay home to have “one normal night.”
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