By Eldon B. Randall
The Addams Family: a New Musical at The Egyptian Theatre in Park City may be considered a Halloween show, but with the laughs it provides, it’s still worth a ticket to see the fun.As expected, The Addams Family is based on the old Addams Family TV show and the 1990’s films. The show, originally presented at the Ziegfeld Theater in Ogden, Utah, follows an older Wednesday Addams (Karaline Taylor) who believes she has fallen in love with a young man, Lucas (Colton Ward). Lucas and his family come from Ohio, a swing state, which is in stark contrast to the Addams’ interesting lifestyle. Mayhem erupts when Wednesday asks her father to keep the couple’s potential marriage a secret from Wednesday’s mother, the lovely if somewhat controlling Morticia (Teanca Rossouw). This causes a rift in the family and all relationships involved.
Uncle Fester (Daniel Akin) plays a narrator of sorts, addressing the audience periodically throughout the show. Fester is determined to have love be victorious and enlists the help of the Addams family ancestors to ensure things end up well for all. Wednesday’s little brother Pugsley Addams (Isaac Allred) is also featured as an opposing force to his sister’s new relationship, crafting the perfect plan that inevitably fails to split them up.
Jeremy R. Gross captures the character of Gomez with comedic timing, facial expressions, and a delightfully spooky chemistry with the rest of the cast. Gross also maintains an accent throughout the show, which made some jokes land perfectly, and helped us look at the character of Gomez from the point of his heritage. Rossouw’s Morticia Addams is also brilliantly crafted and a fun character throughout the show. Rossouw sings flawlessly, and dances in synch like a true professional.
Taylor’s Wednesday Addams, arguably the most recognized character, really captures Wednesday’s inner darkness as well as the softer sides of the character. Taylor’s voice is superb and arguably, in my opinion, the strongest of the cast. Taylor also has great chemistry with Ward’s Lucas, a fun nerdy character, and Ward nails it. Akin’s Uncle Fester sticks true to his character, delivering his message of love for one another and giving full disclosure to a love of his own, the moon.
Allred’s portrayal of the angry, jealous, masochistic brother Pugsley, is played perfectly. Grandma Addams is lovably played by Eliza Haynie. As with any household that can afford one, Lurch, the butler, is stoically by Tyson Allred. Allred mumbles his way flawlessly through every situation with class.
Mal and Alice Beineke, played by Kevin Ireland and Jeanette Marie Puhich respectively, are the epitome of a middle class, mid-American family. Mal getting caught up in the business of working and forgetting to be a husband and father. Alice, the forgotten wife, longs for Mal’s attention like it used to be when they were newlyweds. When Alice accidently drinks from the chalice laced with acremonium, she breaks out and shows her pent up emotions to the surprise of everyone and to the delight of the audience.
Lest we forget, the ancestral ensemble of Landon Weeks, Amber Kacherian, Pierce E. Gross, Austin Payne, Branton Burgess, Kate Potter, Keely Parry, Rebecca Stephens, Maxx Teuscher, and Krystal Decristo, move most excellently through the choreography like a well lubricated machine, each portraying their characters of the walking death with ease. And a great big hand for David Knowles and his riveting performance as Thing.
The direction by Eb Madsen is a success, especially bringing his production to a different venue, all feeling very natural while at the same time being faithful to the source material. Caleb Perry’s set design works well for this show, and allows for excellent flow. Costumes by Becky Jeanne Knowles are an effective way to express characterization. Singing with tracks is never easy for an actor and can be unforgiving in the event of a mistake by a performer, however, I didn’t notice any actor off key or pitch or out of rhythm, so for that, I give credit to the music director Jamie Balaich. The choreography deserves some love, Heidi Potter Hunt is able to put together some really show-stopping numbers with a very talented ensemble.
The Addams Family at the Egyptian in Park City is a fun final end to all the Halloween festivities as we gear up for Thanksgiving. Come see the laughs before they’re gone for another year.
Ziegfeld Theater Company presents The Addams Family: a New Musical by Andrew Lippa, Marshall Brickman, and Rick Elice
The Ziegfeld Theater Company at the Egyptian Theatre, 328 Main Street, Park City, Utah, 84060
November 16 – 24, 2018 Recurring: Recurring weekly on Sunday, Thursday-Saturday, Thu-Sat 8:00 PM, Sun 6:00 PM
Tickets: Tickets range from $19-$45 depending on which day of the week and seat selected.Contact (Box office in Park City): 435-649-9371 Ziegfeld Theater Company: 855-ZIG-ARTS / 855-944-2787, Phone hours: Mon-Sat, 10 AM – 6:30 PM
Egyptian Theater Facebook page
Ziegfeld Theater Company Facebook page
The Addams Family Facebook Event
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