'The Addams Family' - My Review

The Connecticut Cabaret Theater in Berlin has the honor of being the first area community theater to launch a production of The Addams Family. Written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, the musical had a twenty month run on Broadway and a touring company that included CT native Connor Barth in the role of Pugsley. The production at the intimate and whimsically decorated cabaret style venue was directed by Kris McMurray with musical direction by Naugatuck’s Sean Lewis.

I wanted to see how the musical comedy would transfer the single panel cartoon characters (that I only remembered from their black and white television show) to the stage. The foundation that controls the rights to Charles Addam’s cartoons wanted the musical to be based upon the cartoons rather than the television and film characters. So the members of this ghoulish family were taken off the page and brought to life, but there are some nods to the TV show for sure, as well as some current pop culture references and a chorus of ancestors added for good measure.

The premise is that daughter Wednesday has fallen in love with a normal young man and he brings his normal family to a dinner at the Addams family mansion. Broad comedy ensues and parts are very funny. I found the storyline a little forced and the second act dragged a bit, but I did enjoy most of the musical numbers that were tailored for each character; the up tempo pieces for Wednesday (sung beautifully by Kaite Corda) were my favorites. I also liked the addition of the Ancestor characters, all from various eras in the Addams family tree, who wore the most impressive costumes and were used well throughout. I suspect that other area community theaters will begin to produce their own gloomy but funny versions of the Addams Family.

There was not a weak link in this cast of 17. Doug LeBelle made his CT Cabaret debut as Gomez Addams and he nailed this big character. Rachel West was a sultry Morticia who deals will some midlife issues; it was hard to believe that this marked Ms. West’s musical debut. Bobby Schultz played a charming and quirky Uncle Fester and Kristin Ceneviva was a saucy Grandma Addams. Young David Rosenthal was a jealous Pugsley Addams who worries about losing his sibling and favorite torturer.

As the “normal” family Jonathan Escobar as Lucas Beineke, Sandra Lee as Alice Beineke and Kevin Reid as Mal Beineke. Chris Brooks was a sullen Lurch and Susan Emonds (who carried around Cousin It,) James J. Moran, Bill Moskaluk, Jessica Rubin, Erika Pocock, Linda Kelly, Carleigh Schultz, Christina LoBello were the various ancestors.

The band dubbed “The Crypt Kicker Four” sounded great under the direction of Mr. Lewis and wore vampire neckwear. The four accomplished musicians included the musical director on keyboard (and the sound of an organ when necessary,) Tim Urso on drums/percussion, Michael Palin on bass and Jamie Sherwood on guitar.

J.J. Moran (who appeared onstage as a colonial ancestor) also constructed the creepy set, did the choreography and pretty much did whatever needed doing as the “factotum.” Kimberleah Edwon covered both lighting and sound and Alicia Rizzuto and William Moskaluk designed the most impressively spooky costumes.
I really liked the vibe of this theater that is a short distance from the Berlin Turnpike. Patrons can bring along food and drink to enjoy during the 45 minutes before the curtain opens and during intermission that ends when the ladies room line has subsided. Despite being seating in the back row of tables, presumably because we were a party of eight, I was able to see just about everything except when (spoiler alert!) Morticia modified her dress to allow her to dance a tango.

Remaining performances are Fri.Aug 22 @ 8pm, Sat. Aug 23 @ 8pm, Fri. Aug 29 @ 8pm and Sat. Aug 30 @ 8pm. Tickets are $30.00. Some of the raunchy humor might go over the heads of younger patrons but be forewarned.

Connecticut Cabaret Theatre & Performing Arts Center is located at 31 Webster Square Road in Berlin, CT 06037 www.CTcabaret.com (860) 829-1248 Coming up next is God of Carnage on Sept. 5, followed by The Beverly Hillbillies, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Fortunes Fool.