Review: 'The Addams Family' by The Crescent Players at SCSU

Pictured above: Sign painted by Publicity Crew Head, Molly Flanagan.

New Haven, CT - Southern CT State University’s Department of Theatre and The Crescent Players have labeled their 2018-2019 season “Journey to the Dark Side.” The students will be presenting Student Directed One Acts, HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE, and THE TRAGICAL HISTORY OF DR. FAUSTUS, but they have opened SCSU season with a big production of the musical THE ADDAMS FAMILY. The comically dark show was written by Marshall Brickman (TURN OF THE CENTURY) and Rick Elice (PETER AND THE STARCATCHER) with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa (BIG FISH, THE WILD PARTY.) 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 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 ghostly ancestors.

The premise is that daughter Wednesday has fallen in love with a normal-ish 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 always find the storyline a little forced and the second act drags a bit, but I can’t help but enjoy most of the musical numbers that were tailored for each character; the up tempo pieces for the dark Wednesday are my favorites. I also like to see what the Ancestor from various eras in the Addams family tree will wear.

Director Larry Nye (GODSPELL,) an Equity member and associate professor in the Dept. of Theatre at SCSU, worked with Musical Director Jill Brunelle, a vocal coach at Yale University, worked hard to keep the gloomy tone, but did not neglect the wonderful comedic lines. Jason Carubia, a SAG/AFTRA member and a senior at SCSU, served as assistant director. Morticia fed a large Venus Flytrap in the background of one scene and the ancestors hid behind trees on the floor in front of the stage and in the aisles, giving the audience a chance to appreciate their intricate costumes. I also liked the addition of cutesy animal hand puppets to “Pulled.”

Junior Matthew Lopez was very strong in the role of the big character of Gomez Addams in his Lyman stage debut. SCSU sophomore Melanie Byron played the sultry Morticia who deals will some midlife issues. Maire Whelan (35mm: A MUSICAL EXHIBITION) sang very well as the feeling-pulled Wednesday Addams, especially when her mic went out for her solo on “Pulled.”

First year SCSU student Jack Storm played a charming and quirky Uncle Fester; Mr. Storm collected four HALO nominations while in high school. Freshman Keegan Smith was a jealous Pugsley Addams who worries about losing his sibling and favorite torturer in his Crescent Players debut. Senior Eric Nesmith mostly grunted as Lurch until the final number in his final musical at SCSU.

Junior Christian Gunzenhauser did very well in the role of Wednesday’s beloved Lucas Beineke. SCSU sophomore Kyle Kleinschmidt played his father Mal and SCSU junior Patricia Castle donned the yellow dress and sang very well as his mother Alice. Sasha Mahmoud, who played Maria in LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST with Elm Shakespeare, made us laugh as the ancient Grandma.

The always-busy ancestors included Kaleigh Albert (Bride,) Maddie Bergeron (Cavewoman,) Ariana Harris (Conquistador,) Travis Johnson (Roman Soldier,) Maggie Lavoy (Colonial,) Jessica Magro (Flight Attendant,) Sierra Silva (Senorita,) Taylor Tenenbaum (Matador/Grim Reaper) and Flapper Allison VanDerlyn (THE WHO’S TOMMY and HEATHERS at Landmark.) Kudos to Kendra Kochel (Marie Antoinette) on her first show at SCSU; she appeared in THE SOUND OF MUSIC with the Castle Craig Players and 13 at 7A and is now a sophomore at the university.

Costumes designed by Heidi Hanson, who holds an MFA from Yale School of Drama, were pretty impressive whether they were the black uniforms of the Addams family members or the white fabrics and makeup of their ghostly ancestors. The scenic and lighting design by Douglas Macur, who recently joined the SCSU faculty, was appropriately dark but easy on the eyes, except for the slightly overlong strobe light scene that forced me at least to close my eyes.

Kudos to the six musicians in the pit below the stage on their great teamwork in covering the variety of pieces in this score. Ms. Brunelle was on keyboard one with Jeremey Lombard on keyboard two. Mallory Kokus covered the reeds, Morgan Brown played guitar, Daniel Kraszewski was on bass and Martin Wirt kept the beat on the drums. Uncle Fester played his own ukulele. Through a waning crescent moon shaped opening in the stage floor, the MD led the “snap, snap” that opened the show with only her hand visible. I loved it!

TICKETS: http://bitly.com/TicketsAddamsFamilySCSU

Nancy Sasso Janis Photo by J. Timothy Quirk

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues. She posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle.She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and on Twitter @nancysjanis417. Be sure to check out the NEW Connecticut Critics Circle Facebook page.