BrightSide Theatre Presents A Crazy Fun Musical

By Cate Rees-Hessel

BrightSide Theatre’s upbeat and energetic production of “The Addams Family Musical” is very entertaining and humorous, a portrait of the crazy, eccentric, and creepy family we all know and love. True to the original New Yorker cartoons, they live in a spooky, kooky abode in Central Park, where daughter Wednesday met the young man she wants to marry. With a ring on a chain around her neck she reveals to Daddy Gomez that she is getting engaged, but don’t tell mom Mortica…

After pleading with the relatives to act normal when her betrothed and his seemingly dull parents from Ohio come to dinner, hilarious attempts by her clan to appear ordinary make for a riotous good time. Comic moments include references to the “Sound of Music”, “Honeymooners”, and cougars. Dance numbers are very lively, even the ones executed by ghosts; the apparitions have no spoken dialogue but are full of stage presence with excellent movements. The songs are rather show-stopping, satirical, and full of emotions. I like the spot-on costumes, especially the moon, complete with illumination, one of the many ways lighting is used to great advantage.

I love the relationship between Gomez and Mortica, especially Gomez’s criteria for choosing the right Paris hotel to surprise his wife, who is terribly upset that her husband lied to her and rightly so. A full disclosure game after dinner is hysterically funny yet compelling. Father-daughter moments reflecting on Wednesday’s growing up, and a future father-in-law moment with the soon-to-be fiancée are touching. Props and set furnishings are nicely done and realistic. This production is perfect for the Halloween season, but you can’t ring for Lurch or ask Thing to get your tickets, so head on over to www.brightsidetheatre.com. 

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