The Addams Family
at Anaheim

Reviewed on February 15, 2019

Jamie Auer
San Juan Hills
Submitted for publication to OC Register

"Let's Not Talk About Anything Else" But Anaheim's Addams Family
written by Jamie Auer, a senior at San Juan Hills High School

A lovestruck young girl, her wacky family, and the chaos that ensues! When Wednesday Addams introduces her boyfriend and his family to the Addams family, mischief, mayhem, and monstrosities disturb the Beineke's conventional manners.

Portraying the charming patriarch of the Addams family, Raymond Ordiano embodies Gomez Addams through his unwavering Spanish accent and comedic timing.

Acting as the musical's narrator, Uncle Fester Addams (Robert Ruvalcaba) rallies the Addams ancestors to ensure Wednesday and Lucas' love triumphs. Ruvalcaba delights, shaking with excitement and shrieking with delight as he details his plans to the ancestors.

The ensemble of ancestors performed wonderfully as a unit, while still staying true to their characters' individual distinction through their movement and physicality. A particular standout of the ancestors was Andrew Gutierrez as the Conquistador. Gutierrez shined onstage, full of energy and grace through each dance number and set transition.

Contrasting the black and white palette of the Addams family, costumer and lighting designer Natalie Olivares brought color to the ghoulishness of the Addams in the contrasting attire of the Beinekes. Utilizing a lighter color palette for the Ohioans, she successfully differentiated the nature of each of the families creating an interesting visual contrast between the normal and the paranormal. Olivares also creatively set the tone of the romantic moments through her use of pinks, reds, and purples.

The minimalistic set allowed for flexibility of locations and few scene transitions. The incorporation of creative elements such as a towering snake over Pugsley's bed and an ornate crypt in the graveyard brought out the eccentric nature of the family, lending to the overall distinction between the Beinekes and the Addams. Set designer Emiliano Torres used scenic painting techniques to add stone and brick to the Addams mansion, detailing an otherwise simple setting.

Depicting the classic doom and gloom of the Addams, the makeup crew executed their design with originality and precision. They were able to create the pale white features of each member of the Addams clan through the use of white foundation that they airbrushed onto each actor, along with extreme contouring of the cheekbones, and darkened underneath their eyes to create a sunken-in effect.

Despite some issues with projection and annunciation, the entire cast and crew collaborated together to create a wonderful performance of this acclaimed musical. Living, dead, or undecided, you'll surely enjoy "The Addams Family"!

Carlie McCleary
San Clemente
Submitted for publication to OC Facebook

The "Addams Family" at Anaheim is scary good!
written by Carlie McCleary, a senior at San Clemente High School

With a Zombie for a Butler, a torture device in her bedroom, and a family as extraordinary as they come, it's no wonder Wednesday Addams wants just "One Normal Night" with her fiance and his skeptical family. However, in Anaheim High School's endearing production of "The Addams Family," Wednesday learns to embrace her inner darkness and to love her family despite their atypical exterior.

Vivacity and over-the-top manliness characterize Raymond Ordiano's Gomez Addams. Ordiano highlights Gomez's conflict between his love for his wife and his daughter with kind eyes and a loving gentility, as his fatherly advice and affectionate embrace in "Happy/Sad" comfort Wednesday to make the right choice. Complete with a consistent Spanish accent, each note of his high tenor is powerful and consistent, particularly when emphasizing his fervent love for Morticia in "Not Today."

With an unwavering frown and sultry attitude, Crystal Alvarez embodies Morticia Addams. Her unabashed sensuality, evident with each hip swivel and low-pitched remark, translates fluidly to her dancing in "Secrets" and emphasizes the heartbreak she would feel if Gomez lied. Both Ordiano and Alvarez shine in their comedic tête-à-têtes, capturing the married couple's carnal passion and playful banter in "Tango de Amor."

Robert Ruvalcaba portrays the eccentric Uncle Fester with a flamboyant gusto. Ruvalcaba holds himself with boisterous confidence, addressing the audience with sweeping gestures in "Fester's Manifesto"; However, his actions become more reserved and tender as he confesses his love for the moon in "The Moon and Me."

With screeches of sadistic pleasure, Mia Negrete as Pugsley Addams exudes a boyish mischievousness yet vulnerable demeanor in "What If" as the fear of losing Wednesday consumes her.

Cathi Andrade as Lurch nails her comedic bits; her pitched grunts and lethargic sword-fighting capture the kookiness of the unconventional family.

Natalie Olivares' Lighting Design illustrates the dark atmosphere present throughout the Addams Family's humble abode. With flashes of ominous red light on the white backdrop, Olivares highlights moments of tension between Gomez and Morticia in "Full Disclosure Pt 2". She softens the passionate red with hues of pink and purple to illustrate both Wednesday and Fester's blossoming love.

With a valiant effort from both the hardworking cast and creative crew, The Addams Family at Anaheim High School is kooky, spooky, ooky, and altogether so much fun!

Sydney Garcia
Orange Lutheran
Submitted for publication to OC Facebook

Feel Alive with Anaheim High School's "The Addams Family"
written by Sydney Garcia, a senior at Orange Lutheran High School

Anaheim High School's lively production of "The Addams Family" is a continuation of the movie of the same name, with Wednesday Addams introducing a special boy to her strange family.

Raymond Ordiano leads the family as the man of the house, Gomez Addams, in charming fashion. Ordiano stays in character throughout the whole show by using an unfaltering Spanish accent during his lines and songs. He swiftly moves across the stage, constantly consoling his wife and daughter in a loving way to keep his family in tact.

Zulette Orduna embodies the young, naive, Wednesday Addams. Orduna has her head always slighting pointed to the floor in a defiant fashion. But, in moments of happiness her dark presence changes to that of sunshine.

The Ancestors awaken with a bustling energy, always making their presence known, even if the family cannot see them. They steadily stay in their respective characters, always giving some choice, even during a scene change. The Ancestors cheerfully do everything in their power, from the other side, to help the living Addams make the right decisions.

Costumes were put together by Natalie Olivares who beautifully showed the distinction between the living and the dead. The Ancestors wear mostly white with splashes of black symbolizing their ghostly existence. Each one completely different to each other and from different time periods showing the long family history of the Addams. The living Addams wear black with small accents of white while the Beineke family wear typical clothing.

Makeup done by Keylee Rivera, Esmeralda Trejo, Grace Bravio and Mario Mendoza was absolutely killer. All the Ancestors have a uniquely designed makeup that corresponds with the Ancestors that they embody. The Bride Ancestor has black tears running down her face while the Clown Ancestor has a taunting smile. All the Ancestors were paled to give a lifeless effect. Uncle Fester's bald cap is completely created by with seamless application. His eyes are covered by dark circles to give a tired look. Morticia pop with a bright lip and bold winged eyeliner to symbolize her mysterious and powerful personality.

Anaheim High School's production of "The Addams Family" is bursting with life due to its spirited cast, and dashing costumes and makeup.