What does it mean to be an Addams? How do family bonds become blurry through the trials of adolescence? The EHS Theatre Department delved into the answer behind both of these questions in their recent rendition of The Addams Family.
The show began with a whimsical introduction from Uncle Fester (Joel Guerra ‘25), who explained the basic premise: Wednesday Addams (Escarlin Almanzar ‘25) had found a lover, and relations within the family would soon become heated. The play was told through the perspective of Gomez Addams (Gianmichael Solano ‘26), Wednesday’s father.
Wednesday tells Gomez about her engagement to her love, Lucas Beineke (Dannijames Vergara ‘25), but begs him not to tell her mother, Morticia (Olivia Pellizzon ‘26). Gomez is then forced to juggle his role as a father against his role as a husband. The visual and auditory effects, such as lighting and music, show the troubles Gomez goes through, adding depth and suspense to the play.
Well-performed songs such as “When You’re an Addams” and “Waiting” and Uncle Fester’s lively commentary gave a new layer of life to the play and added a light, comical aspect to the performance as a whole.
Morticia slowly begins to suspect her husband is hiding something, but reluctantly allows Wednesday and Gomez to invite the Beineke family to dinner. Wednesday, thrilled to meet her love interest, tries to emulate the image of a perfect woman, wearing brighter colors and trying to hide her family’s eccentricity.
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Kara Labadessa ’25 as Alice Beineke belts the final note of “Waiting,” in which she reveals her discontent with her marriage before collapsing on the table and bringing a dramatic close to Act I.
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(from left) Escarlin Almanzar ’25 as Wednesday Addams, Olivia Pellizon ’26 as Morticia Addams, Gianmichael Solano ’26 as Gomez Addams, Joel Guerra ’25 as Fester, and Layna Ortiz-Albino ’25 as Pugsley Addams and other members of the Addams family perform the opening piece of the play, “When You’re an Addams.”
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(from left) Gianmichael Solano ’26 as Gomez sits Brandon Chung ’25 as Mal Beineke in an antique torture chair while the two men get to know each other.
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Escarlin Almanzar ’25 as Wednesday Addams halts the dinner out of frustration after Alice collapses, leaving the audience with much to anticipate in Act II as Act I ends with the final number, “Full Disclosure.”
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(from left) Olivia Pellizon ’26 as Morticia and Kara Labadessa ’25 as Alice Beineke go through the Addams family album as Morticia tells Alice about what constitutes a healthy marriage.
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Gianmichael Solano ’26 as Gomez holds the Addams Family chalice as he introduces a game called “Full Disclosure,” where guests take turns drinking from the chalice and revealing a secret to the table.
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Escarlin Almanzar ’25 as Wednesday tells her fiance to trust her with her plan to break the news of their engagement to their families over dinner.
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Layna Ortiz-Albino ’25 as Puglsey sings her solo “What If?” as she expresses her anxieties regarding Wednesday marrying a “normal” Lucas Beineke and potentially losing their close sibling relationship.
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Dannijames Vergara ’25 as Lucas Beineke professing his love for Wednesday when he is first introduced in Act I.
The young Pugsley, feeling that he had been replaced, attempts to poison his sister out of her insufferable and persistent passion for Lucas. Meanwhile, the Beinekes, a seemingly happy-go-lucky, picturesque suburban family, have many unresolved issues lurking beneath their ordinary demeanor.
The play perfectly captures the urge to conform to societal expectations and stray away from one’s true identity. However, honesty is key in any relationship, which was a very apparent theme throughout the play.
Once the two families are seated at the dinner table, Morticia proposes they drink a truth potion that forces them to openly express hidden truths. Mrs. Beineke (Kara Labadessa ‘25), compelled to reveal her secrets, sang an angst-riddled arrangement about the lack of intimacy and connection in her marriage. Following the moment of discomfort, Mr. Beineke (Brandon Chung ‘25) and his wife resolved their issues, while the audience laughed.
Although the play delved into deep and significant topics and masterfully incorporated a candid exposé on marital issues, the play was humorous and portrayed these topics to the full extent while keeping a lighthearted mood throughout the whole play, especially with Uncle Fester’s hilarious comedic relief.
The main takeaways from this play are to embrace eccentricity and be open to resolving issues together, timeless issues that find common ground in many people today.
