Spooky fun offered by Secord production
Ghostly ancestors, disembodied hands, and mysterious storms — the Addams family knows all about fear, but Laura Secord's production of the Addams family musical proves that even for the world’s spookiest clan, sometimes nothing is scarier than a good oldfashioned family dinner.
The Addams Family musical, inspired by the iconic gothic cartoons of artist Charles Addams, features the not-so-common Addams family facing the all-too-common challenge of growing up. Wednesday Addams, now 18 and ready to face the world, has brought home boyfriend Lucas Beineke, hoping that their families can get along for a peaceful —and, more importantly, normal — dinner party. The arrival of the utterly conventional Beinekes, however, is bound to cause chaos at the Addams family mansion, and Secord's cast and crew kept the audience enthralled through every second of the hilarious and surprisingly heartwarming pandemonium.
The complex relationships between the characters brought depth to the show, and Secord's actors dove right to the heart of the conflicts their characters faced. Dexter Sonier's passionate portrayal of Gomez Addams, complete with rapier, mustache, and Spanish accent, was juxtaposed with Annika Johnson's cool sophistication as Morticia Addams, but even through their clashes, the couple's connection was never in doubt. Beth Plue worked with Wednesday Addams' deadpan personality and sense of humour to make her character's relationships with little brother Pugsley (Ian Middleton) and secret fiance Lucas (Evan Craig) believable, leaving the audience rooting for Wednesday's happy ending. For the most part, the line delivery was clear, and the majority of the dialogue could be understood through the live music provided by Secord's own Addams Family Orchestra.
Dressed in white and lit in blue, the ancestors of the Addams family haunting the stage proved integral to the fluid transitions from scene to scene. Staircases were turned, walls were flipped, and gates were rolled out by this ensemble, punctuated by vignettes illustrating the relationships and interactions between the ancestors. Character work and costuming were handled by the members of the ensemble meaning that each and every character brought a unique personality to the stage, be it the ghost of a caveman or a grieving bride, and it was this attention to detail that prevented a single transition from falling flat.
The songs of the show ranged from heartfelt father-daughter moments between Gomez and Wednesday, featuring the latter's ever-present crossbow in classic Addams family style, to full-cast dance numbers in a graveyard laying out what it really means to be an Addams. A standout vocal performance came from Ian Middleton in "What If" as Pugsley, a little brother willing to turn to any means (and any potion) necessary to keep his older sister Wednesday close. Pugsley’s scheming led to the seemingly disastrous game of truth in "Full Disclosure," the closing number of the first act, whose antics started off simply enough with declarations of love to the moon, but ended with formerly cheerful mother and wife Alice Beineke (Allie Plue) hilariously snapping and clambering onto the table to expose the utter lack of passion in her marriage.
Ghosts, graveyards, and a happy ending despite all odds — audiences looking for a night of spooky fun will find all they need in Laura Secord's production of The Addams Family.