In perfect timing for the Halloween season, Young Actor’s Theatre’s run of “The Addams Family: A New Musical Comedy” is another notch in its belt of outstanding performances and choices of plays. Running from Oct. 15-25, this young troupe offered up an evening of hilarity, music and dance that rivals the more expansive productions. Being this time, seeing the play at the end of the run, actors were on spot with lines, musical numbers and dance routines, not missing a beat and moving the play on with confidence and expertise.
In perfect timing for the Halloween season, Young Actor’s Theatre’s run of “The Addams Family: A New Musical Comedy” is another notch in its belt of outstanding performances and choices of plays. Running from Oct. 15-25, this young troupe offered up an evening of hilarity, music and dance that rivals the more expansive productions. Being this time, seeing the play at the end of the run, actors were on spot with lines, musical numbers and dance routines, not missing a beat and moving the play on with confidence and expertise.
The play, and the Addams family legacy, whom endear all things macabre, is a spin off of the long-term fan base of the comics and television show, but set in the future as Wednesday (Bella Snyder) is growing up and falls in love with a “normal guy” and wants nothing more than a night of normality as the two families meet where Wednesday and her fiancé Lucas (Caleb Williams) will announce their engagement. But, bringing the normal to the Addams family proves not to be as easy as wanted, with mother Morticia (Shannon Prendergast) doing everything to stand in the way, not sure what is going on, but sure that she has been left out of the loop. The story line follows a similar situation in “The Birdcage” starring Robin Williams, but the quirky comedy and dark humor makes this play stand on its own, despite the similarities.
Everyone knew their queues, but Josef Emmenegger (Gomez) delivered a spot-on performance in character, lines and accent, portraying a perfect Gomez, stuck between the love of his daughter and the love and trust of his wife. His performance accentuated the rest of the cast as they delivered stunning performances and took the role of the iconic Addams family to heart.
Musical numbers graciously intertwined with dialogue, moving the play along with many laughs and powerful vocals from all performers.
Uncle Fester (David Limon), changed from actor to narrator without a blink, blending the play together seamlessly. The entire Addams family cast, including those from the graveyard, made this run a ghoulish success and I cannot wait to see what YAT has to offers next.
Coming up next is “A Holiday to Remember” running Dec. 10-13. For more information visit www.yatsandiego.org.
