The Addams Family
at Sunny Hills High School
Reviewed on November 3, 2016
| Name | School | Publication/Broadcasts |
Lindsey Biggy | Fullerton Union High School | OC Varsity Arts |
Lindsey Biggy | Fullerton Union High School | OC Varsity Arts |
Kaella Cummings | Fountain Valley | OC Varsity Arts |
Kaella Cummings | Fountain Valley | OC Varsity Arts |
Lindsey Biggy
Fullerton Union High School
Submitted for publication to OC Varsity Arts
Anything except One Normal Night in Sunny Hills' The Addams Family
written by Lindsey Biggy, a senior at Fullerton Union High School
The Addams may appear to be a family content with their life, but when Wednesday Addams falls for a boy the complete opposite of them life seems to turn upside down.
As an ensemble, each actor creates a unique character who adds to the general story through their diverse postures and mannerisms. Overall there is a unified togetherness which gives the leads a nice foundation to work off.
Gomez (Joseph Hanson) accentuates the existential crisis he has in the conflict he is stuck in the middle of with his wife and daughter through his flustered attitude and worried expression. Morticia (Sydney Highter) contrasts this through bold choices and confidence in every move she made. When the two come together in the tango scene, for the first time the fiery passion they have is seen and this helps lead to the conflict resolution between the families in the end.
As Lurch, Daniel Park presents an eerie presence throughout the entirety of the show while also being a source of laughter through his emotionless face and slow shuffle. His lurking physicality gives another dimension to the show - he always seems to be around, though there were times you don't notice he is there.
Wednesday (Maddy Githens) endures an internal struggle as she grows conflicted over her newfound love interest. She tries hiding this from her family by acting like her regular self, but even as she has a serious and monotone expression on the outside you can see the exploding passion of love pent up on the inside.
Designed by Maddy Githens, Sophia Jang, and Amanda Turner, the lighting is a keen asset in the comedic relief of the story. From the candles floating near the top of the house to the lights flickering in the storm to encompassing one actor as they spoke directly to the audience, each design furthers a comedic moment which simply wouldn't be as entertaining if there was no lighting. Costumes, designed by Celine Generette and Isaac Pratt-MacDonald, presented a core in the grey and white color scheme chose for the ancestors. It is apparent that the variety of years these people are from is represented between these women and men.
Sunny Hills High School's The Addams Family teaches that love triumphs all, no matter what barriers you have to overcome.
Lindsey Biggy
Fullerton Union High School
Submitted for publication to OC Varsity Arts
Anything except One Normal Night in Sunny Hills' The Addams Family
written by Lindsey Biggy, a senior at Fullerton Union High School
The Addams may appear to be a family content with their life, but when Wednesday Addams falls for a boy the complete opposite of them life seems to turn upside down.
As an ensemble, each actor creates a unique character who adds to the general story through their diverse postures and mannerisms. Overall there is a unified togetherness which gives the leads a nice foundation to work off.
Gomez (Joseph Hanson) accentuates the existential crisis he has in the conflict he is stuck in the middle of with his wife and daughter through his flustered attitude and worried expression. Morticia (Sydney Highter) contrasts this through bold choices and confidence in every move she made. When the two come together in the tango scene, for the first time the fiery passion they have is seen and this helps lead to the conflict resolution between the families in the end.
As Lurch, Daniel Park presents an eerie presence throughout the entirety of the show while also being a source of laughter through his emotionless face and slow shuffle. His lurking physicality gives another dimension to the show - he always seems to be around, though there were times you don't notice he is there.
Wednesday (Maddy Githens) endures an internal struggle as she grows conflicted over her newfound love interest. She tries hiding this from her family by acting like her regular self, but even as she has a serious and monotone expression on the outside you can see the exploding passion of love pent up on the inside.
Designed by Maddy Githens, Sophia Jang, and Amanda Turner, the lighting is a keen asset in the comedic relief of the story. From the candles floating near the top of the house to the lights flickering in the storm to encompassing one actor as they spoke directly to the audience, each design furthers a comedic moment which simply wouldn't be as entertaining if there was no lighting. Costumes, designed by Celine Generette and Isaac Pratt-MacDonald, presented a core in the grey and white color scheme chose for the ancestors. It is apparent that the variety of years these people are from is represented between these women and men.
Sunny Hills High School's The Addams Family teaches that love triumphs all, no matter what barriers you have to overcome.
Kaella Cummings
Fountain Valley
Submitted for publication to OC Varsity Arts
Addams Family eclipses at Sunny Hills
written by Kaella Cummings, a senior at Fountain Valley High School
Every family has their secrets… but not every family is the Addams family. Wednesday Addams is engaged. Her father promised not to tell her mother. And her uncle invoked the spirits of their ancestors to help true love find its way!
The story takes place at the Addams residence in the middle of Central Park. When Wednesday's fiancé comes over for dinner, the Addams must act normal- but the Ohio visitors have their own abnormalities. The musical recounts clichés of rekindled love, children growing up, and families overcoming issues with a quirky twist.
Sunny Hills' cast reanimates both living and dead characters with their enthusiasm. While Gomez (Joseph Hanson) brings flavor with his Spanish accent and strides with patriarchal authority, his wife, Morticia (Sydney Highter), entrances him by gliding about and gesturing with fluid motions of her arms as she speaks- and sings- in a voice of velvet. Wednesday (Maddy Githens) remains stoic through her confessions of love while Pugsley (Zoe Thomson) conveys brotherly jealousy as he mocks Lucas (Marcus Reveles). Fester (Josh Acosta) accentuates silly moments with wild dancing and bashfulness.
The ancestors seem to watch over the family, appearing in each scene. They act as part of the stage crew, moving set pieces on and offstage and bringing technical elements to life. Despite this labor, they always stay in character, notably the Cavewoman Ancestor (Tonya Somesh) who lumbers across stage with the posture of an ape. Lurch (Daniel Park) also manages to keep an expressionless face throughout, complementing his stiff, undead drag. Mal (Jake Cirrito) uses strong facial expressions to show his bewilderment with the Addams. Equipped with an outstanding singing voice, Alice (O. Fiona Pratt-MacDonald), transforms from a rhyming, Hallmark card mother to a bitter, bad-mannered wife as she poses suggestively and insinuates after drinking a potion.
The makeup and costumes, designed by Celine Generette and Issac Pratt-MacDonald turn high school students into people of all ages. The dark scheme of the Addams' clothing contrasts with the yellow of the Beinkes'. Despite moments when actors outpace the music or it overpowers their vocals, the sound designers and operators, Camille Chartier Richard Scobee, Priscilla Canadas, and Diego Cano, make sure not to leave a moment silent, keeping the energy from dissipating.
The cast and crew make The Addams Family a "spooktacular" experience.
Kaella Cummings
Fountain Valley
Submitted for publication to OC Varsity Arts
Addams Family eclipses at Sunny Hills
written by Kaella Cummings, a senior at Fountain Valley High School
Every family has their secrets… but not every family is the Addams family. Wednesday Addams is engaged. Her father promised not to tell her mother. And her uncle invoked the spirits of their ancestors to help true love find its way!
The story takes place at the Addams residence in the middle of Central Park. When Wednesday's fiancé comes over for dinner, the Addams must act normal- but the Ohio visitors have their own abnormalities. The musical recounts clichés of rekindled love, children growing up, and families overcoming issues with a quirky twist.
Sunny Hills' cast reanimates both living and dead characters with their enthusiasm. While Gomez (Joseph Hanson) brings flavor with his Spanish accent and strides with patriarchal authority, his wife, Morticia (Sydney Highter), entrances him by gliding about and gesturing with fluid motions of her arms as she speaks- and sings- in a voice of velvet. Wednesday (Maddy Githens) remains stoic through her confessions of love while Pugsley (Zoe Thomson) conveys brotherly jealousy as he mocks Lucas (Marcus Reveles). Fester (Josh Acosta) accentuates silly moments with wild dancing and bashfulness.
The ancestors seem to watch over the family, appearing in each scene. They act as part of the stage crew, moving set pieces on and offstage and bringing technical elements to life. Despite this labor, they always stay in character, notably the Cavewoman Ancestor (Tonya Somesh) who lumbers across stage with the posture of an ape. Lurch (Daniel Park) also manages to keep an expressionless face throughout, complementing his stiff, undead drag. Mal (Jake Cirrito) uses strong facial expressions to show his bewilderment with the Addams. Equipped with an outstanding singing voice, Alice (O. Fiona Pratt-MacDonald), transforms from a rhyming, Hallmark card mother to a bitter, bad-mannered wife as she poses suggestively and insinuates after drinking a potion.
The makeup and costumes, designed by Celine Generette and Issac Pratt-MacDonald turn high school students into people of all ages. The dark scheme of the Addams' clothing contrasts with the yellow of the Beinkes'. Despite moments when actors outpace the music or it overpowers their vocals, the sound designers and operators, Camille Chartier Richard Scobee, Priscilla Canadas, and Diego Cano, make sure not to leave a moment silent, keeping the energy from dissipating.
The cast and crew make The Addams Family a "spooktacular" experience.