The Addams Family
at Capistrano Valley
Reviewed on April 21, 2016
| Name | School | Publication/Broadcasts |
Jana Phillips | St. Margaret's Episcopal | OC Register |
Jana Phillips | St. Margaret's Episcopal | OC Register |
Tyler Ashman | St. Margaret's Episcopal | OC Register |
Tyler Ashman | St. Margaret's Episcopal | OC Register |
Taylor Plett | SOCSA Dana Hills | OC Cappies Facebook |
Taylor Plett | SOCSA Dana Hills | OC Cappies Facebook |
Jana Phillips
St. Margaret's Episcopal
Submitted for publication to OC Register
Creepiness and Kookinesss in Capo-Valley's "The Addams Family"
Creepiness and kookinesss, mysteriousness and spookiness, and altogether ookiness abounds in Capistrano Valley's production of "The Addams Family." Derived from the famous 1960's TV show, the production follows the story of now-teenager Wednesday Addams (Sara Neal) and her romance with a ‘normal' boy, Lucas Beineke (Nico Zani). With collective zeal, the cast brings out all the characteristic craziness of this well-loved family.
The show opens with the auspicious image of the Addams family standing behind their front gate as they summon their ancestors. Dancing with sharp movements and perfect synchronicity, each ancestor creates their own character among the masses.
Sara Neal as Wednesday quickly reveals the conflict within her character as she flip-flops between stone-faced and love-struck. Her song, "Pulled" perfectly exemplifies this, as she alternates from quite literally torturing her brother, to singing sweetly about adorable birds, to accidentally crushing said bird.
Another stand-out number, "Full Disclosure" effectively showcases both the members of the Addams Family and the Beinekes. In it, Maddy Cole as Uncle Fester compellingly displays her character's quirkiness with a gleeful smile and wide gestures. Likewise, Grandma Addams (Julie Moffitt) shuffles around the table speaking with an aged voice.
The true focus of the number, Bessie Kurzeja as Alice Beineke, tackles the difficult job of transforming her character from sweet and cheerful to raving mad. She does this well, contrasting her proper bearing of the previous scenes with loose and flailing movements as she climbs all over the table.
The whole number is positioned before well done set piece, designed by Emilie Meledy. The contrast of black trim on maroon and the details of cobwebs and shredded fabric perfectly set the strangeness of the scene.
Likewise, with numerous wigs and a gradation in coloring, makeup and costume (headed by Morgyn Drummond and Madi Null) do an exemplary job transforming people into their characters.
Morticia's (McKenna Oldmixon) dress is a great example of this, and Morticia herself does much to augment it with her suave movements. She works well with her husband, Gomez (Wyatt Webb), whose maintained accent and flourishing charisma perfectly exemplify his character.
The show closes in the same place it begins, the Addams Family Graveyard. Sending their Uncle off to the moon, the family celebrates their peculiarity once more.
Jana Phillips
St. Margaret's Episcopal
Submitted for publication to OC Register
Creepiness and Kookinesss in Capo-Valley's "The Addams Family"
Creepiness and kookinesss, mysteriousness and spookiness, and altogether ookiness abounds in Capistrano Valley's production of "The Addams Family." Derived from the famous 1960's TV show, the production follows the story of now-teenager Wednesday Addams (Sara Neal) and her romance with a ‘normal' boy, Lucas Beineke (Nico Zani). With collective zeal, the cast brings out all the characteristic craziness of this well-loved family.
The show opens with the auspicious image of the Addams family standing behind their front gate as they summon their ancestors. Dancing with sharp movements and perfect synchronicity, each ancestor creates their own character among the masses.
Sara Neal as Wednesday quickly reveals the conflict within her character as she flip-flops between stone-faced and love-struck. Her song, "Pulled" perfectly exemplifies this, as she alternates from quite literally torturing her brother, to singing sweetly about adorable birds, to accidentally crushing said bird.
Another stand-out number, "Full Disclosure" effectively showcases both the members of the Addams Family and the Beinekes. In it, Maddy Cole as Uncle Fester compellingly displays her character's quirkiness with a gleeful smile and wide gestures. Likewise, Grandma Addams (Julie Moffitt) shuffles around the table speaking with an aged voice.
The true focus of the number, Bessie Kurzeja as Alice Beineke, tackles the difficult job of transforming her character from sweet and cheerful to raving mad. She does this well, contrasting her proper bearing of the previous scenes with loose and flailing movements as she climbs all over the table.
The whole number is positioned before well done set piece, designed by Emilie Meledy. The contrast of black trim on maroon and the details of cobwebs and shredded fabric perfectly set the strangeness of the scene.
Likewise, with numerous wigs and a gradation in coloring, makeup and costume (headed by Morgyn Drummond and Madi Null) do an exemplary job transforming people into their characters.
Morticia's (McKenna Oldmixon) dress is a great example of this, and Morticia herself does much to augment it with her suave movements. She works well with her husband, Gomez (Wyatt Webb), whose maintained accent and flourishing charisma perfectly exemplify his character.
The show closes in the same place it begins, the Addams Family Graveyard. Sending their Uncle off to the moon, the family celebrates their peculiarity once more.
Tyler Ashman
St. Margaret's Episcopal
Submitted for publication to OC Register
Capistrano Valley Puts on a Spook-tacular "Addams Family"
What kind of family has a witch doctor for a grandma, a son who delights in being tortured, and a zombie for a butler? None other than the Addams family: a group of eclectic misfits who strive to love each other in their morbid, unusual way.
When the family invites the completely normal Beinekes over for dinner, chaos inevitably follows on their heels. Capistrano Valley High School's production of "The Addams Family" redefines the word "normal" through their energetic exploits and spine-chilling sadism.
Wyatt Webb and McKenna Oldmixon carry the production as Gomez and Morticia Addams. Webb shows his flair for the dramatic as he utilizes a flamboyant Spanish accent and suavely slides around while wooing his wife. Oldmixon counters his unstoppable energy with her poised, seductive voice and gliding movements.
Sara Neal entertains as the rebellious teenage daughter Wednesday Addams. Her beautiful voice shines through in songs like "Pulled," in which she breaks from her deadpan death stare and professes her love for her "normal" boyfriend, Lucas Beineke (Nico Zani).
Though all of the Addams are strange, no one compares to the zany Uncle Fester, played by Maddy Cole. Her nasally voice, animated expressiveness, and jerky movements allow her to create a truly unforgettable character.
Without speaking a word, Cole Moore delights as Lurch. He shuffles around at a snail's pace, head cocked to one side, as he grunts and "rushes" to do the will of the Addams family. In "Move Toward the Darkness," he reveals a beautiful bass voice, to the surprise and delight of the whole clan.
The Ancestors function as an energetic and engaged ensemble. They often maintain difficult poses for extended periods of time as statues, which testifies to their intense commitment. In the song, "Full Disclosure" they complement standout performances from Bessie Kurzeja (Alice Beineke) and Julie Moffitt (Grandma Addams) with beautiful, haunting harmonies.
Equally as impressive as the acting, the student-designed technical elements enhance the entire show. The set (designed by Emilie Meledy) and lighting (Sarah Grulikowski and Henry Dittrich) combine to make scenes like the graveyard come to life with a large crypt backed by a deep blue and purple night.
Capo Valley's production of "The Addams Family" chills spines and warms hearts with energetic performances, beautiful technical elements, and a sense of unity for all the misfits of the world.
Tyler Ashman
St. Margaret's Episcopal
Submitted for publication to OC Register
Capistrano Valley Puts on a Spook-tacular "Addams Family"
What kind of family has a witch doctor for a grandma, a son who delights in being tortured, and a zombie for a butler? None other than the Addams family: a group of eclectic misfits who strive to love each other in their morbid, unusual way.
When the family invites the completely normal Beinekes over for dinner, chaos inevitably follows on their heels. Capistrano Valley High School's production of "The Addams Family" redefines the word "normal" through their energetic exploits and spine-chilling sadism.
Wyatt Webb and McKenna Oldmixon carry the production as Gomez and Morticia Addams. Webb shows his flair for the dramatic as he utilizes a flamboyant Spanish accent and suavely slides around while wooing his wife. Oldmixon counters his unstoppable energy with her poised, seductive voice and gliding movements.
Sara Neal entertains as the rebellious teenage daughter Wednesday Addams. Her beautiful voice shines through in songs like "Pulled," in which she breaks from her deadpan death stare and professes her love for her "normal" boyfriend, Lucas Beineke (Nico Zani).
Though all of the Addams are strange, no one compares to the zany Uncle Fester, played by Maddy Cole. Her nasally voice, animated expressiveness, and jerky movements allow her to create a truly unforgettable character.
Without speaking a word, Cole Moore delights as Lurch. He shuffles around at a snail's pace, head cocked to one side, as he grunts and "rushes" to do the will of the Addams family. In "Move Toward the Darkness," he reveals a beautiful bass voice, to the surprise and delight of the whole clan.
The Ancestors function as an energetic and engaged ensemble. They often maintain difficult poses for extended periods of time as statues, which testifies to their intense commitment. In the song, "Full Disclosure" they complement standout performances from Bessie Kurzeja (Alice Beineke) and Julie Moffitt (Grandma Addams) with beautiful, haunting harmonies.
Equally as impressive as the acting, the student-designed technical elements enhance the entire show. The set (designed by Emilie Meledy) and lighting (Sarah Grulikowski and Henry Dittrich) combine to make scenes like the graveyard come to life with a large crypt backed by a deep blue and purple night.
Capo Valley's production of "The Addams Family" chills spines and warms hearts with energetic performances, beautiful technical elements, and a sense of unity for all the misfits of the world.
Taylor Plett
SOCSA Dana Hills
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook
Frightening Fun Takes Final Rest at Capistrano Valley's "The Addams Family"
From the pages of the New Yorker to the stage and beyond, the Addams family is an icon of endearing darkness that has run the gamut of recreation; Capistrano Valley's "The Addams Family" does justice to the morbid family musical.
When young Wednesday Addams (Sara Neal) falls for seemingly-normal Lucas Beineke (Nico Zani), her meddlesome Uncle Fester (Maddy Cole) enlists the help of their ghoulish family ancestors to ensure the two find wedded bliss, despite certain family members' misgivings. In true Addams form, a dinner between Addamses and Beinekes quickly turns disastrous, and romance finds itself at death's door.
Wyatt Webb as Gomez Addams oozes suave and charisma, swishing a sword in the face of Lucas' father as he lauds his family's rich (and unusual) history, chest swelled with pride. Webb maintains a saucy Spanish accent whether lavishing his wife, Morticia, with praise or bemoaning his daughter's transition into womanhood.
McKenna Oldmixon's Morticia anchors the eccentric family with her even, purring voice and sophistication. Oldmixon retains her calm composure as she firmly denies her husband a passionate embrace until he spills the secret of their daughter's engagement, gliding away from his grasping arms in a gothic gown created by the actress herself.
As the household's resident lovebird, Sara Neal transitions from Wednesday's signature expressionless brooding to lovesick sentimentality, flaunting a buzzing belt as she puzzles over this change in "Pulled."
While Addamses and Beinekes alike struggle to keep love alive and not kill each other in the process, the ensemble of ancestors adds a quirky constant throughout. Each with a unique persona and ghastly get-up, the lifeless family members become an amusing backdrop to every scene without distracting from the story.
Praise is due to Morgyn Drummond for her artful and innovative makeup design; the unnaturally pallid faces of the Addams family starkly contrast the warm glow of the Beinekes' rosy complexions, distinguishing the eerie oddballs from the cheerful Ohio natives. Lighting, designed by Sarah Grulikowski and Henry Dittrich, speckles the scenery with gleaming stars behind a bath of twilight purple, filling the stage with both an air of mystery and an element of beauty.
Capistrano Valley's "The Addams Family" enlivens the death-loving clan with expert comedic timing and ample enthusiasm, proving that even in a household of ghosts, mutants and sadists, family comes first and love is unconditional.
Taylor Plett
SOCSA Dana Hills
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook
Frightening Fun Takes Final Rest at Capistrano Valley's "The Addams Family"
From the pages of the New Yorker to the stage and beyond, the Addams family is an icon of endearing darkness that has run the gamut of recreation; Capistrano Valley's "The Addams Family" does justice to the morbid family musical.
When young Wednesday Addams (Sara Neal) falls for seemingly-normal Lucas Beineke (Nico Zani), her meddlesome Uncle Fester (Maddy Cole) enlists the help of their ghoulish family ancestors to ensure the two find wedded bliss, despite certain family members' misgivings. In true Addams form, a dinner between Addamses and Beinekes quickly turns disastrous, and romance finds itself at death's door.
Wyatt Webb as Gomez Addams oozes suave and charisma, swishing a sword in the face of Lucas' father as he lauds his family's rich (and unusual) history, chest swelled with pride. Webb maintains a saucy Spanish accent whether lavishing his wife, Morticia, with praise or bemoaning his daughter's transition into womanhood.
McKenna Oldmixon's Morticia anchors the eccentric family with her even, purring voice and sophistication. Oldmixon retains her calm composure as she firmly denies her husband a passionate embrace until he spills the secret of their daughter's engagement, gliding away from his grasping arms in a gothic gown created by the actress herself.
As the household's resident lovebird, Sara Neal transitions from Wednesday's signature expressionless brooding to lovesick sentimentality, flaunting a buzzing belt as she puzzles over this change in "Pulled."
While Addamses and Beinekes alike struggle to keep love alive and not kill each other in the process, the ensemble of ancestors adds a quirky constant throughout. Each with a unique persona and ghastly get-up, the lifeless family members become an amusing backdrop to every scene without distracting from the story.
Praise is due to Morgyn Drummond for her artful and innovative makeup design; the unnaturally pallid faces of the Addams family starkly contrast the warm glow of the Beinekes' rosy complexions, distinguishing the eerie oddballs from the cheerful Ohio natives. Lighting, designed by Sarah Grulikowski and Henry Dittrich, speckles the scenery with gleaming stars behind a bath of twilight purple, filling the stage with both an air of mystery and an element of beauty.
Capistrano Valley's "The Addams Family" enlivens the death-loving clan with expert comedic timing and ample enthusiasm, proving that even in a household of ghosts, mutants and sadists, family comes first and love is unconditional.