The Addams Family
at South Plantation High School

Reviewed on March 7, 2015

Nick Lopez
Cypress Bay High School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

Death has never been so lively than at the hands of South Plantation High School, whose spirited take on THE ADDAMS FAMILY brought fresh, inspired twists to a beloved franchise.

Gomez, Morticia, Wednesday, and Pugsley have enjoyed lucrative success on Saturday morning cartoons and the silver screen for more than 70 years, but it wasn't until 2010 that they made their Broadway debut. With music by Andrew Lippa and a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, this musical adaptation of the classic Charles Addams cartoon characters ran for 722 performances. In the show, Wednesday Addams, the only daughter of the titular family, tries to keep her engagement to her charming boyfriend Lucas a secret from her parents, and the ruckus that ensues makes for two hours of twisted comedy and catchy musical numbers.

South Plantation made an ambitious choice of incorporating sign language into their production, but an extremely skilled cast executed the task gracefully. Instead of being distracting, this component was used to its advantage to build character. Each performer had a personalized way of signing, and each did so with astonishing skill.

Jesse Castellanos exuded charisma and owned the stage as Gomez, the flamboyant father of the family. Castellanos was a living cartoon - his remarkable physicality, facials, and sharpened comedic timing brought forward an irresistible, unparalleled energy. Alexandra Moraru nailed the deadpan humor of the Addams Family matriarch, Morticia, while still approaching the role with a confident charisma that built a solid presence in the show. Monica Aivazian gave a driven, rousing performance as Wednesday. Her magnificent vocal capacities were highlighted in showstoppers such as "Pulled" and "One Normal Night," which despite their difficulty still featured Aivazian finding new colors in Wednesday's dark demeanor through her enthusiastic characterization. Shea Rogus was consistently hilarious as Grandma Addams thanks to commitment to an uncannily accurate vocal tone and an impressive physicality which completely transformed the actress into her character.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY was a mesmerizing visual spectacle and exceptional technical achievement. The multilayered set was stunning to behold and was seamlessly handled by the stage crew, while the rich costume design was abundant in detail and added atmospheric allure to the production. Fluid choreography was performed cleanly by an impressive ensemble of ghosts, whose vocals throughout the show highly impressed thanks to strong command of harmonies.

An uncannily talented and passionate cast provided a night at the theatre which was truly to die for in South Plantation's take on THE ADDAMS FAMILY. A toast, two snaps, and a round of applause for its thoroughly entertaining production!

Julissa Orozco
Cooper City High School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

South Plantation High School's production of "The Addams Family" was anything but a normal night, and tells the story of what happens when the darkest family in New York meet the sophisticated folks from Ohio.

"The Addams Family," which was first performed in 2009, was based on characters created by Charles Addams, and book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. The music and lyrics from the dark musical was written by Andrew Lippa. The story surrounds a family who live in the middle of central park, and their encounter with a group of people who are not so normal according to the Addams. Wednesday Addams is getting married to a sweet boy, Lucas Beineke, who does not fit the ideals of her mother; therefore, she begs her father promise not to tell her mother Morticia about the engagement.

The actors, and ensemble in "The Addams Family" had not only sung and danced, but they mastered the skill of doing sign language throughout the entirety of the production. All of the lead roles displayed strong characterization and humorous moments throughout the show. The choreography in the show was outstanding, especially during the "Tango De Amor." As a whole, the cast of "The Addams Family" performed on a professional level that was not expected in a high school production.

Jesse Castellanos who portrayed Gomez Addams put on a hilarious performance as the silly Spanish father, who was torn between his wife and daughter. Morticia Addams (Alexandra Moraru) truly showed her dark side in the show, and she never fell out of character while acting, singing, dancing, and signing. Monica Aivazian starred as the seriously in love Wednesday Addams. Aivazian had outstanding vocals throughout every single one of her performances on stage, and stood out during "Crazier Than You," along her partner Lucas Beineke (Jermacus Riggins) who put on a show stopping dance for his love interest.

The supporting cast brought comic to the show especially from the remainder of the Addams Family.The ensemble "Ancestors," made the atmosphere even more deadly with their pale faces and dance numbers. With Pugsley's (Adam Ortega) need for attention from his sister,Uncle Fester's (Tyler Cole) affection for the moon, Grandma's (Shea Rogus) performance during "What If," and of course Lurch (Daniel Garcia) who took his time, the bizarre family was extremely amusing. Alice Beineke played by Kelly Walsh was the rhyming mother of Lucas, and vocals were notable during "Waiting."

Sound and lighting was impressive and never once hitched or cut out. As for the set and costumes, the hard work from the cast and crew was clearly displayed on stage and accurately depicted the characters and their surroundings. The makeup on the cast clearly portrayed whether someone was the living dead or 102 years old; overall, the technical aspect of "The Addams Family" were commendable.

As a full disclosure, South Plantation High School put on a remarkable performance of "The Addams Family," and honestly, the performance of the show was professional and well executed.

Tristan Hutchison
Cardinal Gibbons
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

Spooks, Frights, and "One Normal Night". Sounds like the ingredients to a classic in the making, right? Well, you're close! It's South Plantation High School's production of the off-beat musical, "The Addams Family."

"The Addams Family" originally opened on Broadway in April of 2010, with Music and Lyrics by Andrew Lippa and Book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. After 722 performances, the show closed on Broadway in December of 2011. Since then, "The Addams Family" has become a National Tour hit. The show follows the story of little Wednesday Addams, except she's not so little anymore, in fact she wants to get married to a boy from a normal family! Wednesday decides to have her future in-laws, the Beinekes, over for dinner. There's just one problem, Wednesday is afraid her crazy, black wearing, demented family will ruin everything. Wednesday makes her family promise to act "normal" just for one night, and pleads with her parents, Morticia and Gomez Addams, not to meddle or pry into her business. Shortly after the Beinekes arrive however, wackiness ensues, leaving for an unforgettable night of singing, dancing, and secrets being spilled!

This production showed off a variety of talent from its young cast. Some stand out performances include, Monica Aivazians' portrayal of Wednesday Addams. Aivazian was a delight to watch on stage, especially during the song "Pulled." Aivazians' facial expressions were perfect for her character Wednesday. Another wonderful performance in this show was that of Jesse Castellanos, who played Gomez Addams. Castellanos was hilarious on stage. Everyone of his movements seemed like a cartoon character, big and over the top, which is how the character of Gomez should be. Castellanos was so into the character that he never lost his Hispanic accent, even while singing. The final performance that really stood out was Morticia Addams, played by Alexandra Moraru. Morarus' performance of creepy yet sexy Morticia was spot on. Moraru really shined during her song "Just Around the Corner" where she not only sang but also did a choirs line with the grim reaper himself!

The cast as a whole did an excellent job. From the ensemble to the principle characters, everyone seemed to know what his/her job was. A very big highlight of this show was the eighteen piece orchestra that played all the music live onstage. The orchestra were so talented, that it sounded as though it was the original recording playing instead of a live band. Another interesting detail about this particular show was use of sign language. South Plantation High School is the only public school in the county that offers programming for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Therefore, the actors signed and acted at the same time throughout the show.

South Plantation's production of "The Addams Family" was a wonderful experience. Through songs, dance, and sign language, the actors showed us "what it is to be an Addams!"

Giani Jones
Dillard Center For The Arts
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

When you're an Addams, being considered abnormal is an inevitable trait that every member of this family wears fashionably. With that being said, South Plantation's astounding production of "The Addams Family" triggered an eruption of applause throughout the audience, but what truly enhanced the allurement of this musical was the incorporation of American Sign Language.

"The Addams Family" is based on a ghastly American family with a fixation on darkness. Based on a comic strip by Charles Addams, the musical, created by authors Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice, depicts the original characters' personas rather than their portrayal through the television series and films. The musical revolves around Wednesday Addams' secret proposal from Lucas Beineke, a "normal" kid. Wednesday then trusts her father, Gomez, with keeping her dark secret from her judgmental mother, which creates major issues within the family. As Lucas' "ordinary" parents clash with the odd Addams, Lucas himself struggles to keep his relationship with Wednesday. One "normal" night can either tear a family apart or bring two strange families together.

At first glance, the brilliant set captured the audience's attention. Every minor detail, from the cracks in the gravestones to the picture frames on the walls, complimented the Addams Family taste. The transitional lighting set the emotional moods between scenes and even built anticipation for the following scene. The creativity of the costumes and make-up added to the fierce nature of the musical, thus, making this quite a virile production.

The talented Monica Aivazian, who played Wednesday Addams, was a powerful singer with a voice to die for, literally. Jesse Castellanos, or rather, the "magnífico" Gomez Addams, stayed loyal to his character with his Hispanic accent and quirky gestures. Alexandra Moraru mirrored Morticia Addams as if she, in a previous life, had lived a life similarly; her impression was impeccable. "One Normal Night," which included all members of the cast, was a favorite among the enthusiastic audience. Eyes stayed glued on the stage as the ardent characters dispersed their strong energies to the audience. The ingenuity of this musical number brought the essence of the musical to its pinnacle then held the show to its paramount capacity of greatness until the very end.

True talent derives from those who dedicate themselves to their roles; evidently, these characters were devoted. Genuine skill involves connecting to one's character while both singing melodiously and interpreting through American Sign Language. As an overall musical, it was humorous and lively. Beyond any shadow of doubt, South Plantation's stunning production of "The Addams Family" was well-constructed. With the inclusion of American Sign Language, so all audience may experience the passion, the musical was definitely extraordinary.

Christian Ubillus
Deerfield Beach High School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

When the Addams family and the Beineke family meet for the first time, anything but "One Normal Night" is bound to occur! Instead, the perfect blend of sign language, singing, and dancing came to life at South Plantation High School's production of THE ADDAMS FAMILY!

Creator Charles Addams's classic tale of the creepy and kooky, mysterious and spooky, and altogether ooky Addams family was materialized on stage with a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice and with a score by Andrew Lippa. This musical reinvented the tale by presenting Wednesday Addams as a girl in love with the relatively "normal" Lucas Beineke. However, while breaking the news to their families, hilarious chaos ensues. Nominated for two Tony Awards in 2010, the musical begged the question, "Will their love triumph in the end?"

What was unique about this show was that it incorporated American Sign Language to turn it into Theater for the Deaf. Each actor was tasked with signing their lines, even while singing and moving around and others were tasked with signing for them when they could not. The cast turned the sign language into a dance, making it complement their vocal ability beautifully and seamlessly intertwining it into their character's persona. This production was not just theater for the deaf, it was music for the eyes!

As we all know, the Addams family is filled with some of the most loveable weirdos in entertainment history. At the head of this production was Gomez Addams (Jesse Castellanos) and Wednesday Addams (Monica Aivazian). Castellanos did what few actors can, he made sure every single line sung, phrase signed, and move danced had purpose. He became the personification of Addams craziness. In turn, Aivazian showered the stage with her singing and signing ability, presenting vocal acrobatics that the audience looked forward to throughout the production.

The Addams matriarch Morticia (Alexandra Moraru) and the Beineke mother, Alice (Kelly Walsh) also dazzled the audience. Moraru shone with her macabre humor and superb dancing ability. Walsh developed her character and filled the stage with her heavenly voice. The comical aspects of the show were also expanded on by Grandma Addams (Shea Rogus) and Pugsley Addams (Adam Ortega). Frequently the show's scene stealers, these sadistic actors had impressively characterized their voices to make the dark humor of the show even more amusing.

The technical aspects of the show made it more visually pleasing. The set and lighting as well as the student-run costumes, make-up, and props truly set the atmosphere for the show. Meanwhile, the live student orchestra added another layer of emotion to the already well-performed numbers. Some microphone and lighting errors were present, but the audience did not dwell on them and the cast effectively worked around them.

South Plantation took on an ambitious production and hit all the marks. It made us want to get up and be an Addams!