The Addams Family
at Upper Moreland High School

Reviewed on March 23, 2018

Victoria Kline
Academy of the New Church
Submitted for publication to Philadelphia Inquirer - 1

Upper Moreland High School's production of "The Addams Family" is a classic family soap opera… that is, if you enjoy your sitcoms with a side of sadism, a dash of the diabolical, and a singing choir of ghostly ancestors.

Based on the comics, tv show, and movies of the same name, this marvelously morbid musical follows the strange and absurd lives of the beloved Addams family. Only this time little Wednesday has grown up… and found a man. It is up to her, crazy Uncle Fester, and some musical ghosts to make sure the first dinner between their two families goes well. While at first it might seem a crazy thing to be an Addams, there is something in this wildly funny musical for everybody to relate to, whether it be mother-daughter drama, jealous siblings, or even marriage troubles.

Leading this kooky cast were the Addams parents, the hilarious Gomez (Barry Berglund), and his beloved wife Morticia (Jessica Stahl). This dynamic duo acted well together and apart, Gomez's incredulous expressions and enthusiastic gesticulations pairing well with Morticia's deadly sassy, smooth vocals. Morticia's amazing voice shone in songs such as "Secrets", unfaltering even in the face of difficult choreography.

Wednesday (Liz Jones) also stood out for her clear tone and drama, delivering her character's development from a shy girl with one expression to an outgoing, expressive woman with refreshing clarity. Her fiance, Lucas Beineke (Christian Tuffy), complemented her energy with just as much of his own, and the chemistry between the two was enjoyable to watch. But although these many dramatic performances were wonderful, the real star of the show was Uncle Fester (Nina Vitek), the crazy old uncle who fell in love with the moon. Throughout the play Vitek's unfailing energy and impeccable comedic timing kept the audience's eyes constantly on her character, while her wonderfully strange accent and dance stole the show and had the theater rolling with laughter.

Backing such dramatic talent was an equally talented crew behind the scenes. The student-built set was beautifully done, and made even more dynamic by ever-changing lighting: crimson, turquoise, and a haunting shade of blue to illuminate the pristine costumes of the ancestors. Although there were a couple issues with sound imbalances, the crew did a great job fixing these as soon as they appeared, and the cast made up for it with their own vocal fortitude.

We all have our differences, our quirks, and sometimes we can let them get in the way of getting along. Upper Moreland's production of "The Addams Family" is here to show us that instead of pretending to be normal, we should instead embrace our weirdness, and let the whole world know how crazy we are.

Trinity Pike
Upper Merion Area High School
Submitted for publication to Philadelphia Inquirer - 2

From their magical grandmother to their growling butler, the Addams are far from normal. Add singing and dancing to the macabre classic, and a special, spooky musical appears. Crafting their own commentary on family, horror, and love, Upper Moreland High School brought life to the dead with their production of "The Addams Family".

In this unusual show, Wednesday Addams is not a little girl anymore. Her teenage rebellion involves marrying her normal human boyfriend, Lucas Beineke. To help their polar opposite families reconcile their differences, they plan a dinner. Chaos ensues. The book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice puts a new spin on the iconic Addams Family, bringing hilarious to the horrific with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa.

Despite the challenge of this unique premise, the cast excellently portrayed the caricatures of the family. Effective characterization brought a punch to the show's simple choreography. While cast energy was sometimes lacking, the ghosts and ghouls showed their spirit in group numbers "The Moon and Me" and "Tango De Amor."

Jessica Stahl (Morticia Addams) elegantly embraced her strict, seductive persona. With classy mannerisms and powerful, velvety vocals, she gave an edge to "Secrets" and "Death is Just Around the Corner." Stahl's chic, cool nature delightfully contrasted the over-the-top behavior of her husband, Barry Berglund (Gomez Addams). Berglund's consistent Latin accent and skillful comedic timing had audiences chuckling throughout the show.

Another comical character was whimsical Nina Vitek (Uncle Fester). Expressive dancing and body language allowed Vitek to command the stage. Her adorable character voice and strong vocals made "The Moon and Me" a delight. Liz Jones (Wednesday Addams) proved versatile. She fostered great chemistry, whether teasing her brother Ethan MacBain-Adornetto (Pugsley Addams), pursuing a fiery romance with Christian Tuffy (Lucas Beineke), or trying to kill both. MacBain-Adornetto and Tuffy each revealed their own vocal prowess in "What If" and "Crazier Than You." Another standout singer was surprise vocalist Brian Miller (Lurch). When he wasn't contributing his rich bass to "Move Toward the Darkness," he was perfectly slow and stiff, growling and groaning comedically.

From Fester's magical purple to Pugsley's urgent red, vibrant colors framed the story. Lighting by Josh Lusen, Robert Jones, Shailin Choski, Juliet Raginsky, and Chris Mason brightened the tale with precise timing. Adding to the aesthetic impact, Elena McMullan's two-story set lavishly captured the Addams' haunted mansion. While there were distracting sound issues, the sound crew persevered to deliver most of the actors' funny lines. Stage managers Kirsten Denardo and Tabitha Schmer led the crew to create smooth scene transitions.

Upper Moreland's "The Addams Family" was deliciously dark, but also surprisingly tender. Painting a bittersweet portrait, the cast and crew provided a heartfelt sentiment on growing up.

Anji Cooper
Academy of the New Church
Submitted for publication to The Bear Print

"Crazy is underrated, normal is an illusion, and bright colors are for people with no inner life." Full Disclosure: Upper Moreland brought the dark and quirky Addams Family to life with exuberance and flair in its production this past Friday night.

Based on the popular comics by Charles Addams, "The Addams Family" is a musical comedy that debuted on Broadway in 2010. The show follows the macabre household as their morbid lives are interrupted when Wednesday Addams brings home a normal boy for dinner. Wanting to impress her boyfriend's parents, she begs her family for "One Normal Night." Of course, the family doesn't do "normal" well, and the outcome is something "Crazier Than You" might think.

Upper Moreland's production of "The Addams Family" was engaging and energetic, driven by charismatic leads, hilarious supporting actors, and a haunting ensemble.

Jessica Stahl played the ever proud and regal Morticia Addams, mistress of the house. She brought the character to life with poised demeanor and excellent vocals, and was especially impressive during her performances of "Secrets" and "Just Around the Corner." Barry Berglund fully embodied the eccentric, yet charming Gomez Addams, consistently speaking with a Spanish accent and easily portraying the character's torn emotions in "Trapped." He possessed precise comedic timing, always delivering humorous lines at ideal moments, leaving the audience in stitches.

The ensemble exuded an eerie, peculiar energy, perfectly fitting with the spirit of the production. Uncle Fester (Nina Vitek) especially stood out, quickly becoming a crowd favorite with her whimsical dancing and comical lines. Her exaggerated presentation of a lover's agony during "The Moon and Me" was priceless. Liz Jones played Wednesday Addams with deadpan humor and melodic vocals, as seen during "Pulled," when she expressed her conflicted feelings over falling in love. Pugsley Addams (Ethan MacBain-Adornetto) won the sympathy of the audience for his plight during his adorable, yet slightly disturbing performance of "What If."

The lighting and sets complemented the tone of the show, firmly entrapping the audience in the kooky, ghoulish world of the Addams Family. Josh Lucen's lighting conveyed the mood of each scene, and the sets added realism by providing a substantial image of where each scene took place. While there were some issues in the sound production, the cast performed through the obstacles to maintain continuity.

Despite the household's obsession with death, Upper Moreland breathed new life into the challenging production of "The Addams Family". With boundless energy and spirit, they cast a delightfully ghastly glow on a frightfully fascinating show.

June Sanchez
Upper Merion Area High School
Submitted for publication to GPC Website Review 4

Upper Moreland High School "Pulled" the audience in with their outstanding performance of "The Addams Family."

Written by Andrew Lippa, Marshall Brickman, and Rick Elice, "The Addams Family" revives everyone's favorite deadpan clan for a new tale. When an all grown up Wednesday Addams finds love in a seemingly "normal" Lucas Beineke, the Addams find themselves dismayed, but when the families finally meet, they find that "normal" might really be nothing more than an illusion.

Upper Moreland's rendition of this dark comedy was made spectacular by an energetic ensemble of ghoulish ancestors. Complementing the darkness and gloom of the Addams family, the all-white ancestors breathed vibrancy and enthusiasm into dance numbers like "When you're an Addams" and "Death is Just Around the Corner." The intricately crafted crimson and gray set perfectly reflected the shadowy, somber Addams family, while nicely contrasting the more colorful Beineke's.

Barry Berglund effectively portrayed the fiery Gomez Addams with superb comedic timing and a sharp Spanish accent. He easily transitioned between laying on the laughs in numbers like "Trapped" and adding depth and authenticity to his character in softer ballads like "Happy/Sad." Opposite of Berglund, Jessica Stahl gave a captivating performance as Morticia. Her powerhouse vocals in numbers like "Secrets" and "Death is Just Around the Corner" expertly encapsulated her dark and mysterious character.

Furthermore, Liz Jones embraced the darkness through her portrayal of Wednesday. Her deadpan delivery of one-liners and impactful, refreshing vocals made her the perfect match for the quirky, adventure-seeking Lucas, who was portrayed by Christian Tuffy. Sophia Camacho, Nina Vitek, and Brian Miller, who played Grandmama, Uncle Fester, and Lurch respectively, all contributed moments of light-hearted hilarity to the production.

The stage crew's seamless scene changes heightened the quality of the production, as did the lighting, which accurately reflected the action on stage and artfully illuminated the all-white costumes of the ancestors.

With undying hilarity and underlying messages of love and the importance of family, Upper Moreland's production of "The Addams Family" brought the audience one step closer to their own darkness.