The Addams Family
at Cardinal Gibbons High School

Reviewed on November 3, 2018

Madeline Finkelman
North Broward Preparatory School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

Featuring a family that puts the fun in dysfunctional and the ditty in morbidity, Cardinal Gibbons High School's delightfully dreadful production of "The Addams Family" brought to life the story of a clan in love with death.

Written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, and featuring music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, the musical premiered on Broadway in 2010 and is based on the comics by Charles Addams that first appeared in 1938. The cartoonishly dark musical follows the macabre yet melodious antics of a family in conflict when their grown daughter falls in love with a "normal" boy.

As the family's passionate patriarch, Gomez, Dylan Machado carried the show with his comically charming performance. His consistent Spanish dialect and dead-on comedic timing allowed Machado to convincingly convey Gomez's inner turmoil as a man "trapped" between his love for his wife and his loyalty to his daughter. Gomez's determined and defiant daughter Wednesday was brilliantly brought to the stage by Madeline Diamond. Diamond was a vocal standout with her stunning range powerfully on display in her solo "Pulled."Diamond excellently expressed Wednesday's arch from angsty brat to young woman in love. Machado and Diamond forged a believable father-daughter chemistry, best showcased in the song "Happy/Sad," where a deep and genuine connection between the two is clearly created.

The diabolical diva and ominous mom, Morticia, was portrayed by Kelly Harris. Harris's statuesque physicality and stone-faced expressions artfully conveyed her contrasting roles as lustful spouse and loving mother. William Eichholtz played the loveable and love-obsessed Uncle Fester. Eichholtz served as a beacon of light in the otherwise dark and deathly family unit, shining especially bright in "The Moon and Me" as he sweetly serenades his long distance love, the moon.

Death never looked so alive than in the performance of the ensemble of ancestors. Their ethereal movements and ghostly presence made them compelling facilitators of the story, eventually helping the young lovers dig up their true feelings for one another. Another notable performer was Olivia Te Kolste in her role as the masochistic and mischievous Pugsley. Her sympathetic portrayal of the tortured little brother was both humorous and heartwarming.

The morbid makeup and ghoulishly gauzy costumes helped create the show's eerie aesthetic and spooky setting. Props were used to great effect, especially Pugsley's giant pet lizard and Wednesday's formidable crossbow. These elements helped the cast achieve the creepy atmosphere of the Addams' abode, furthering the idea that this "extremely normal" family was anything but normal.

Whether you are among the living, dead or undecided, the show's message of "family first" touched the heart- and possibly other disembodied organs. The cast and crew of "The Addams Family" luminously illustrated that it is life's constant contradictions that guide us to a perfectly imperfect (un)happily ever after.

Avery Anger
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

"Full Disclosure," this dark comedy has nothing to hide; unless it involves a secret engagement or a man in love with the moon. With all of these elements, Cardinal Gibbons High School's production of "The Addams Family" shows us what it really means to be an Addams.

This creepy, kooky, and mysteriously spooky musical was based on original cartoon characters created by Charles Addams. "The Addams Family," music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, opened on Broadway in April 2010 and closed in December 2011. The musical comedy focuses on the ghoulish eighteen-year old Wednesday Addams, who falls in love with the kind, intelligent Lucas Beineke from Ohio, who is far from the typical Addams man. One not- so-normal day, Wednesday invites Lucas's family to the Addams family household for one "normal" dinner party, which erupts into a night of rhymes, disclosed secrets, tested relationships, and the delicious anarchy of this anything-but-ordinary family.

Pulling the audience into her captivating portrayal of the love-stricken Wednesday Addams was Madeline Diamond. Diamond exhibited Wednesday's passion for the dark through her superior acting skills and chilling vocals, which were displayed in numbers such as "Pulled" and "One Normal Night." Dylan Machado successfully executed his delivery of the charismatic and comical nature of Gomez Addams. His chemistry with the rest of the cast was impeccable, as was his comedic timing. Machado also demonstrated his ability to devise a contrasted character by holding his ground in the more serious moments, which enabled him to make his role even more enjoyable to watch on stage.

William Eichholtz depicted the perfect concoction of dark and lighthearted humor in his rendition of Uncle Fester. The enthusiasm he brought to the stage was commendable and evident in numbers such as, "The Moon and Me". Emily Perkins presented impeccable dance skills through the lively choreography in her role as an Ancestor. The Ancestors ensemble provided the audience with energetic performances, and it was interesting to see how each individual member was costumed and portrayed an Ancestor from different time periods.

Technically, the show was visually stunning. The attention to detail in the Addams household was impressive and added to the already professional quality of the production, as did the seamless set transitions and spot-on lighting, which allowed for a smooth-running show. The costumes, designed by Alyssa Chiarello, Isabella Sweeney, Noalani Valle, and Elisa Saldias-Leon were breathtaking and aided in bringing all of these chaotic, crazy characters to life (or death).

Whether you are living, dead, or undecided, Cardinal Gibbons High School welcomes you to their phenomenal rendition of "The Addams Family." It is truly a show you don't want to miss. Who knows? It might just "pull" you in a new direction.

Aysha Zackria
NSU University School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

The Addams household makes every day seem as if it were Halloween, not caring about how the world perceives them. Cardinal Gibbons High School's hilarious production of "The Addams Family" proves that "normal is an illusion."

The Addams family is an unusual bunch of people–living, dead, and undecided. When Wednesday, the fearsome teenage daughter, falls in love with Lucas Beineke, they decide to get married. Only one thing stands in their way: a dinner with Lucas's absurdly normal parents in the Addams family mansion. With music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and book by Brickman and Elice, "The Addams Family" was based on the cartoons by Charles Addams. The show premiered on Broadway in April 2010, following a preview in Chicago. The Broadway production received two Tony Award nominations and eight Drama Desk Award nominations, winning one.

Dylan Machado, playing Gomez, mastered the iconic role with a consistent Spanish accent and mature physicality. Because of his complete engagement, his soliloquies felt true to the story and character. Every joke landed as a result of his spot-on comedic timing. The strongest part of his characterization, however, was the dynamic relationships with every family member. He obviously understood his own character as well as everyone else's. Madeline Diamond, as Wednesday, stood out with her powerful voice, prominent in both solos and larger ensemble numbers. By using exaggerated facial expressions, her attention to vocal quality did not detract from her acting. William Eichholtz, playing Uncle Fester, fully invested himself in frequent goofy ramblings. This commitment manifested in hysterical physical comedy, over-the-top delivery of lines, and the maintenance of a silly, high-pitched voice. Kelly Harris, as Morticia, conveyed the poised air of the iconic character with her deadpan execution of lines. Her connections to her children and Gomez were evident and natural.

Darby Silverman, playing Alice, evolved from a prim and proper mother of an ordinary family to a completely uninhibited eccentric. Her quiet energy grew into a complete command over scenes. Emily Perkins, as an Ancestor, cleanly executed the choreography with infectious energy, constantly catching the eye. Olivia Te Kolste, as Pugsley, excellently portrayed a boy who just wanted to be tortured by his sister. The character's young age and immaturity was unmistakable in her line delivery. The Ancestors supported the story, both in vocals and dance. They were unified as an ensemble, but each had an individual role. Although sometimes there were unnecessary pauses between lines, the cast kept the story alive through energy and engagement in scenes, even when they were not the focus.

Costumes, by Chiarello, Sweeney, Valle, and Saldias-Leon, contributed to the environment of the show as a whole, establishing color palettes for the living Addams family, the ancestors, and the Beineke family. Similarly, hair and makeup, by Krause, Dunne, Cuozzo, and McCarver, clearly distinguished between the undead and living. Many characters appeared to have sunken eyes, without losing their facial expressions in the dark makeup. Stage management and crew, by Gauthier, Gidlow, Nicolaus, and Quirk, facilitated smooth, fast transitions from scene to scene, often moving large set pieces with ease.

Cardinal Gibbons High School's production of The Addams Family thrilled, showing that no matter the frightening situation, "love still conquers all."

Kaitlyn Tully
Calvary Christian Academy
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

In the words of Morticia Addams, "Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly". Cardinal Gibbons High School questioned the boundaries of normal in their production of "The Addams Family," by composer-lyricist Andrew Lippa.

Premiering on Broadway in April 2010, "The Addams Family" ran for 722 shows until its close in December 2011, winning a Drama Desk Award for Best Set Design. It chronicles Wednesday Addams and her soon-to-be fiance, Lucas. When Wednesday reveals to her father that Lucas proposed and will be coming for dinner, she makes him promise not to tell her mother about the proposal. Naturally, this lie causes many debacles including a fight between Wednesday's parents, a fight between Lucas' parents, and a third argument between Wednesday and Lucas. Fortunately, by the end of the musical, all parties have made up, mostly thanks to Uncle Fester and the chorus of Ancestors.

Cardinal Gibbons High School delivered a striking performance of "The Addams Family" in which every character and actor added an element of depth to the show, taking it from a simple comedy to a heartwarming tale with lessons for all. Dylan Machado (Gomez Addams) continually provided great comedic timing, bringing the audience nearly to tears with their laughter. He provided extremely strong vocals, most especially in the song "Happy/Sad". Madeline Diamond (Wednesday Addams) also amazed the audience with her belting voice that resonated throughout the theatre. William Eichholtz (Fester) effectively combined roaring comedy with life lessons, keeping the audience hungry for more. Another notable actress was Darby Silverman as Alice Beineke who, despite a malfunctioning microphone, still managed to project enough for the entire theatre to hear her without straining. Never slipping out of character, she also easily portrayed Alice, a character with two seemingly opposite personalities.

Not to be outdone by the cast, the crew also performed exceedingly well. The costumes, designed by Alyssa Chiarello, were exceptional, portraying the personality of the characters. Multiple costumes were student produced, including Wednesday's black dress which was beautifully crafted and perfect for the role. The props, led by Julia Zanatta, also stood out. Each prop successfully contributed to the personality and themes of each character, only adding to the depth of the show. Grandma's tray of potions and remedies was extremely eye-catching and unique, foreshadowing later events even before the dialogue foreshadowed them.

Cardinal Gibbons High School successfully juxtaposes the lightheartedness of comedy with the drama of family life, forcing the audience to see that normal is a spectrum and that no one is perfect. The themes also brought to light the realization that family is more important than any petty argument and is worthy of a second chance.

Tai Beasley
Coral Glades High School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

Cardinal Gibbons' production of "The Addams Family" was far from "One Normal Night." The Addams Family, a clan who bathes in gloom and lives for death, has their graves shaken when one of their own falls for a "normal boy." Two unlikely worlds collide through dark comedy, deception, and love, and the Addams's are spooked to find that their lives will never be the same.

The Addams Family is a kooky musical comedy with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. Staying true to its uniqueness, this musical was the first to be based on characters from Charles Addams's single-panel gag cartoons, débuting on Broadway in April 2010. Its popularity fostered a revised national tour of North America in 2011, and a UK tour in 2016. "The Addams Family Musical's" productions have been nominated for numerous awards, including the Tony Award for Best Original Score and winning the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Set Design. The ghoulish Addams family live in an upside-down world of death and sorrow, and love every minute of it. However, when heartless daughter Wednesday falls in love with sweet, normal Lucas Beineke, everything the family knows goes ghost. Patriarch Gomez is trapped between keeping his daughter's engagement secret from his wife Morticia. After a hurricane hits while the Beineke's are over for dinner, the fateful night turns into one of "Full Disclosure," tested relationships, and terrifying change.

Star of the show Madeline Diamond (Wednesday) flawlessly portrayed the stubborn, sinister character. Her chilling facials, sharp physicality, and intense emotion dominated every scene, and succeeded in providing a stark contrast with timid Lucas, and tension with Matriarch Morticia. Diamond's powerful vocals shook the stage and blazed with emotion, especially in "Pulled."
Kelly Harris (Morticia Addams) successfully took on the sultry, head of the house. Her rich voice and deadpan gestures created a character of elegance and force. Harris's strong vocals and demeanor shone through in "Just Around the Corner,"and her developing chemistry with Gomez was clearly portrayed in her physicality and diction.

Dylan Machado (Gomez) absolutely "knocked 'em dead" with his performance. His character commitment never once faltered, whether it was his accent, humor, or chemistry with every cast member. Machado's vocals were melodious and passionate, particularly in "Not Today," and his impeccable comedic timing was continuously present in his physicality, diction, and facials.
Crowd favorite Fester was incredibly played by William Eichholtz. He completely made this strange character his own and was a memorable character in every sense. Eichholtz's energy, spot-on comedic timing, and weird accent dominated the stage. His animated, genuine vocals in "The Moon and Me" stole the hearts of the audience, and his jokes and bubbly physicality evoked laughter from all.

The haunting costumes, makeup, and hair successfully brought the characters to life with their intricacy and relevance to the theme. Props used were realistic and essential to the plot. The Ancestors eerily moved the story along through beautiful dance, and although some characters lacked energy and development, the entire cast brought life to every scene.

Giving "Full Disclosure,"ecstatic congratulations to Cardinal Gibbons' incredible production of "The Addams Family," for proving that no matter how crazy or morbid, family will always stick together.

Gabriela Coutinho
American Heritage School
Submitted for publication to Chiefs Newsletter

When one desires a dreadfully delightful evening of deadly plays on words and spine-chilling stagecraft, "The Addams Family" at Cardinal Gibbons proved the perfect potion for its impressive vocals, developed characters' robust personalities, and formidably-fitting technical elements.

Based on the original cartoons by Charles Addams rather than the television show or movie spin-offs, "The Addams Family" boasts music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. The musical focuses on events surrounding the dearly demented family as interpersonal trust falters when Wednesday falls in love and tries to keep her engagement a secret.

As head of the household, Gomez, Dylan Machado painted the romanticism and humor of his character in songs like "Trapped" while also presenting a softer side grounded in authenticity such as "Happy/Sad." Consistently filling the theatre with her breathtakingly powerful voice, Madeline Diamond as Wednesday Addams brought youthful vigor and retained her character's famous lack of "a sunny disposition."

Every performer filled the shoes of his or her beloved character, creating dynamic and distinct relationships between one another. Particularly memorable, William Eichholtz, gave his eccentric Uncle Fester an endearing bashfulness in his crush for the moon and exhibited impeccable comedic timing. Kelly Harris as cool, calculating Morticia provided the fitting contrast to Machado's passion and delivered strong vocals. As a whole, the Addams family - "living, dead, and undecided" - worked cohesively together to cultivate the story and their own "definition of normal."

In juxtaposition, the Beineke family epitomized what a so-called ‘normal' family from Ohio looks like, going on to display the change the Addams family wrought in "Crazier Than You." Frightfully vivacious, the ensemble of dead Ancestors provided virtually immortal energy and support for numbers like "But Love" and "When You're an Addams." Impressively, whenever there were sound difficulties, cast members adjusted their performances and projected as needed. While a few harmonies could have been more polished, the cast more than made up for them with constant engagement and an extremely well "executed" production.

Constructing a "Full Disclosure" of the Addams family's world, technical elements stood in ghastly glory. Although much of the design is relatively set, students still found ways to be creative and original, particularly with Morticia's handmade dress and Wednesday's V-neck dress to represent her maturation. Props, costumes, hair and makeup helped create humorous distinctions between the Addams and Beineke families, namely featured in "One Normal Night" with the Addams family household in a dark color palette versus the Beineke's arrival amongst apple trees and bright colors, such as the Addams'abhorred yellow.

Gifting a drop-dead fun night that was anything but the highly-overrated "normal," Cardinal Gibbons High School brought an iconic household back to life in "The Addams Family." Through 'petrifying' performances in personality and vocals and terrifically 'terrifying' technical elements, one could not help but snap as the curtain rose and fatally fell.