High school musical goes goth
In their annual theatrical alliance, Palmerston North Girls’ and Boys’ High Schools are bringing the kooky and upside-down Addams Family to the stage.
Directed by Boys’ High teacher Chris Burton, the musical is an adaptation of the television series that first aired in 1964 and will be making its Palmerston North debut.
The characters of the television series are all there, making up the macabre Addams family, and the storyline follows Wednesday Addams’ romance with a boy from a ‘‘normal’’ family.
Most of the main parts have been filled by year 13 students, with Lily Bourne stepping up from her usual chorus and dance parts to take on the lead of Morticia. Burton said she had worked hard and her audition was ‘‘outstanding’’.
‘‘She really looks the part. It is quite uncanny. She is just really great in this role.’’
Bourne said her friends prompted her to audition for the part.
‘‘I am kind of the mum of our group of friends. I am very mumsy. I’m taller than everybody else. I have the long, dark hair and I just really wanted the part. I like her a lot and I feel her in my soul. Getting to stomp around and be angry is quite nice.’’
One of the big moments of the show, said Bourne, was when Morticia and Gomez, played by year 13 student Oliver Inman, do a tango. ‘‘I get to push Oliver around a bit and it’s like three minutes forty of just dancing, which is pretty cool.’’
Burton said many students saw their school show involvement as a stepping stone for their further education. Past student Katie Atkins, who starred in many school productions, started this year at the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art and Bourne said she would love to follow in her footsteps.
‘‘I would like to try to pursue performing arts. Musicals are my whole life. I love them and that deep passion has really developed through the school shows.’’
The Addams Family will also be Callum Prichard’s last school show. He plays Fester and he said he saw signing up to be crew for his first show in 2017 as ‘‘a turning point’’ in his life.
‘‘It was the moment I really got passionate about something. I think when you are involved in school theatre a big part of it is the social side of things. You meet some incredibly cool people and they are all really unique and I love the vibe that theatre people have.’’
The Addams Family opens at Palmerston North’s Speirs Centre tomorrow and runs until March 23.