'The Addams Family' by BMA - A Review

Fairfield, CT - Broadway Method Academy offers its students the opportunity to be part of a full-scale musical every year. This year BMA presented THE ADDAMS FAMILY in their studio theater that is set up at the academy in a shopping center on Black Rock Turnpike in Fairfield. Performances of this production ran concurrently with three performances of THE ADDAMS FAMILY Jr. The BMA is a creative partner of the esteemed Jamie Hulley Arts Foundation and also serves as the resident for the Westport Country Playhouse.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY has a book by Marshal Brickman and Rick Elice that is based on characters created by Charles Addams, with delightful music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa. The set that did not overpower the space was designed by Ryan Howell with great lighting designed by Curtis Shields.

“One Normal Night…”

A comical feast that embraces the wackiness in every family, The Addams Family features an original story and it’s every father’s nightmare: Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family– a man her parents have never met. And if that wasn’t upsetting enough, Wednesday confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before– keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents.

Spooky sound design was by Dan Johnson and fun choreography by Audra Bryant. Costumer Colleen Fitsimons gathered the familiar ensembles and music director J. Scott Handley directed the students with the taped accompaniment. Make-up and wigs were supervised by Andrea Kennedy and Kelsey Sullivan. Prop masters were Tracey Fey Cleri, Lisa Kuchta and Missy Papageorge.

I confess that I worried that THE ADDAMS FAMILY would not easily fit into the relatively small space and the configuration of the BMA black box, but not surprisingly, director Connor Deane made it work extremely well. There were only a few times that patrons seated in the corner of the comfortable seats had a truly obstructed view of an actor, but the added perk of hearing one of the performers singing the tenor line backstage from the seat that I chose compensated mightily. The scenes were thoughtfully blocked so that both sides of the audience had an equal view.

Ethan Horbury brought plenty of charm to the role of Gomez Addams and sang wonderfully his solo “Happy Sad.” I got to see Caroline Marchetti in the role of the morbid Morticia and she did very well, especially her solo on “Let’s Live Before We Die.” She also showcased a fine belt for “Secrets.” Ms. Marchetti shared the role with Isabel Chistoni.

The multi-talented Marty Gnidula (BMA’s THE LITTLE MERMAID) was perfectly cast in the role of Uncle Fester, a role that he played to the hilt in the Amity HS production in 2018; his fantastic comic timing and charm were on display. This young actor is good at any role he attempts and I can’t wait to see him in this year’s Amity production.

Ella Miller did very well in the role of Wednesday Addams, who is being “Pulled” in a new direction when she falls in love with an almost normal Lucas Beineke, who was played well by Kyle Geriak. Lizzie Richards was a riot in the role of the ancient Grandma. Skylar Giblin had fun with the role of Pugsley Addams, who fears losing the torture of his sister. Jayden Hudson stayed in character completely for his role of the Addams butler Lurch. Richie Cordero took on the role of the tightly-wound father of Lucas and Sheridan Mullins donned a (lovely) yellow dress to play the role of “to the moon” Alice.

And the Ancestors, well, the ghosts sang and danced and assisted the other characters during their time back on the earth. They were played by Nathan Ayotte, Claudia Cleri, Gillian Delmhorst, Kari Ergmann, Jessie Flam, Ryanne Forrest, Annika Jonker, Grace Kennedy, Mariam Mamadashvilla, Maddy Markham, Megan McCarthy, Taylor McGeachy, Serena Remmes, Bailey Schumaker and Lilly Zuccala.

The evening performance was the third of the day for BMA and I was so glad that I managed to attend one. I also got to speak with the father of Grace Kennedy and the man who picks the shows for the students of Amity HS as he scanned my ticket; the make-up and wig designer for this show Andrea Kennedy is Grace’s proud mother. Robert Kennedy promised to contact me to attend the two productions at Amity and I will hold him to it.

Nancy Sasso Janis, writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, posts well over 100 reviews each year. In 2016, her membership in the Connecticut Critics Circle began and her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted not only in the Naugatuck Patch but also on the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the NEW CCC Facebook page.

Click here to read about Naugatuck/Bethwood Patch Mayor Nancy Sasso Janis.