Mill Valley gets all together ooky with the Throckmorton Theatre’s production of The Addams Family Musical. The show, with a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice and music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, debuted on Broadway in 2010 and has become a staple of community and regional theaters at this time of year. It runs through Nov. 15.
Based on the characters created by Charles Addams, this is a fun, imaginative musical that lends itself to a young cast. Wednesday Addams (Sam Garfinkel) has fallen in love with Lucas Beineke (Sebastian Tonski). The two want to wed, but there’s a problem: their families.
Mal (Morgan Hunt) and Alice (Geneva Tonski) Beineke are flying in from Ohio for dinner, but discord has arisen in the usually idyllic marriage of Morticia (Annabelle Garfinkel) and Gomez Addams (Deven Reis). It seems that Gomez is keeping a secret. Luckily, Uncle Fester (Moose Fong) and a gaggle of Addams ancestors are on hand to ensure true love prevails.
Yes, this is youth theater, but these kids are not new to the stage, and it shows. As Gomez, Reis has stage presence and charisma to spare. His Gomez is at once likable and sympathetic without losing any of the Addams quirkiness.
Fong also impresses as Fester. There is something about the openness he brings to the character that makes even its weirdest parts endearing. His performance of “The Moon and Me,” a song that can get saccharine fast, is now my favorite. Fong’s grounded and genuine performance keeps it enjoyable.
Choreography by co-directors Gina Chapman and Mariya Shpungina is clean and energetic, allowing each performer their moment to shine. They are supported by the excellent musical direction of Daniel Savio, inventive lighting by Saylor and great costumes by Amy Dunn.
Minor quibbles include pacing that drags a little between songs and dance breaks that run a little longer than necessary.
I’ve said it before and will continue to say it: If you want Broadway, you need youth theater, you need college theater, and you need community theater. Throckmorton brings a community of youth together (so many that this show is double-cast) and teaches them what it is to be artists. The one thing that cannot be taught is how an audience will respond. If we want talented performers in the future, we need to be supporting them now.
One won’t regret watching this creepy, kooky, fun show. It’s a solid production.
142 Throckmorton presents ‘The Addams Family Musical’ through Nov. 15 at the Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley. Fri & Sat, 7pm; Sun, 2pm. $30-$48. 415.383.9600. throckmortontheatre.org.
