Gomez and Morticia Addams (played by Roger Rex and Nancy Williams Shuffle) lead the season premiere production of the Encore Theater, “The Addams Family”.
Photos by Rae Staton
LIMA — It is difficult to find anyone unfamiliar with the creepy, kooky, spooky Addams Family who resided at 0001 Cemetery Lane in the 1960s television show, or the 1991 movie version.
Now, the 2009 musical stage version — set in a home in New York overlooking Central Park, mixing song and dance and creating laughs rooted in the macabre — makes its way to a Lima stage.
CAST
Individuals from around northwest Ohio tried out for the musical on June 1 and June 2.
“We had about 60 people come out for auditions from Ada, Van Wert, Spencerville, and the Lima area too, but we could only take 30,” said Terri Spencer of Encore Theater.
The cast is made up of unmistakable, quirky personalities:
• Gomez Addams (played by Roger Rex) has a black-mustache and oil-slicked dark hair. He is a romantic with a penchant for kissing his wife from her hand up her arm whenever she speaks French. Gomez himself speaks with a lisping Castillian accent. He earned his wealth as a stockbroker and wears pinstriped suits.
• Morticia Addams (played by Nancy Williams Shuffle) is a “sweet” and “petite” wife, whose first name is derived from “mort,” meaning “death.” In today’s terms she would be considered “goth,” with her pale white skin, black eyes, and very long black hair. She wears an all-black, tight, hobble-skirted dress that requires her to take tiny steps. The dress is floor-length with a tentacle-like trail that covers her shoes so she seems to float like an octopus rather than stride across the floor.
• Uncle Fester (played by Jon David Faeth), Morticia’s uncle, is the embodiment of energy, destruction and pain. He has the ability to self-power a lightbulb and enjoys blowing up items. He spends his downtime being stretched on the rack and sleeping on a bed of nails. Destined for lifetime bachelorhood, Fester is a “luna”tic, having literally succumbed to the influence of the moon by falling “crazy in love” with “her.”
• Grandma Addams (Mary Smith) is a bonafide witch.
• Pugsley Addams (played by Christian Ward) and Wednesday Addams (played by Madeline Emerick), are the odd son and daughter of Gomez and Morticia.
• Lurch (played by John Shuffle), the butler, is a giant whose two-word line has made him famous: “You rang?”
Minor characters include Cousin Itt, a diminutive being whose head of hair reaches the floor so that no physical features are visible. He may not be human because he does not speak any known language.
Photographed Addams family ancestors, including two evil twins, watch the family. During the show they emerge from behind life-sized picture frames to dance on the stage.
The visiting family from Ohio includes father Mal Beineke (played by Joe Warnement), mother Alice Beineke (played by Debbie Briggs) and their son Lukas Beineke (played by Carson Caprella).
PLOT SUMMARY
Wednesday is engaged to “normal” Lukas and invites his parents to her home in New York City to meet her family. Wednesday persuades her family to act normal, but chaos ensues. By the end of the night, the Beinekes learn the Addams Family’s secret and decide that being normal is overrated. In a happy ending, Lukas’s parents rekindle their youthful craziness and the young couple’s wedding plans proceed.
MUSIC
There are 21 musical selections and, among them, four major songs:
• Act 1: “When You’re an Addams” and “One Normal Night”
• Act 2: “Just Around the Corner” and ”The Moon and Me”
TICKETS AND PERFORMANCE DATES
The two-hour, family-friendly show opens Friday, Aug. 5 at 8 p.m. After opening night, it will repeat Saturday, Aug. 6 (8 p.m.), and Sunday, Aug. 7 (2 p.m.). Friday, Aug. 12 (8 p.m.), Saturday, Aug. 13 (8 p.m.), and Sunday, Aug. 14 (8 p.m.).
Tickets are $17 (adults), $14 (seniors ages 62 and older), $12 (students 10 and older), $12 (students who present college IDs), and $10 (youth ages 10 and under).
Those who enjoy The Addams Family may also like “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” in October.
Amil Tellers-Encore Theaters is located at 991 N. Shore Dr., Lima.
For additional details, call 419-223-8866 or email [email protected].
