On November 19 and 20 in Woodridge Auditorium, the cast of foundation students presented The Addams Family musical, featuring the chaos that erupts when Wednesday, all grown up, falls in love with a nice, normal boy.
After he and his family arrive at the Addams’ house for dinner, secrets tumble out, arguments ensue, and ghosts emerge, dancing and singing their pulseless hearts out.
The Addams Family originated in 1938 from a single-panel cartoon, which was adapted into a TV show in 1964, and eventually into four movies. The musical first premiered on Broadway on April 8, 2010, at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater.
Theatre director Eric McNaughton explained that the seventh and eighth grade students had to prepare immensely for their roles. “They had to learn the music: solos, duets, and group numbers. There was a lot to do physically: staging, choreography, and a bit of physical humor. All of these things take a lot of time and dedication to master,” McNaughton said.
McNaughton chose The Addams Family this year because of its powerful message of bringing diverse people together. “It’s a fantastic story, with a great script and music, and a ton of great characters for our young actors,” he said. “Plus, I always love to tell a story about how our perceived differences are ultimately the things that make us stronger as a community,” McNaughton continued.
Eighth-grader Isabel Rodriguez, who played Wednesday, explained that the plot’s central theme revolves around how people perceive “normal” differently, and that it is not a singular concept. “Both families try to hide their flaws and things that make them unique, but in the end, weirdness is what brings them together,” Rodriquez said.
The spooky and exciting special effects and gothic costumes held the audience spellbound.
Rodriguez explained that many of the actors wore pitch black or wild gray wigs, as well as white-painted faces. “We spend a long time putting on our goth-esque makeup and hair,” she said.
The lighting and tech also stood out because of the rising smoke that clouded parts of the stage, and red spotlights created a dark mood of mystery.
McNaughton added how proud he was of the students’ passion and persistence. “It was an extraordinarily wonderful experience from day one. The students really threw themselves into this work, and their hard work paid off magnificently,” he explained.
Rodriguez also emphasized that the play is more than performance alone. “It was so amazing and fun. I loved growing close to my cast and building friendships that will last,” she said.
