HYDE PARK–The Lamoille County Players are currently performing the highly-entertaining musical comedy, “The Addams Family Musical,” at the Hyde Park Opera House, with a superlative cast who combine beautiful voices with professional acting skills. Inspired by the hilarious cartoons of Charles Addams that appeared for decades in the New Yorker magazine, his family of amusingly macabre characters living in a dilapidated Victorian mansion were made into a hit Broadway show by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, with engaging music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa. Addams’ work also led to a popular television series and two films.
The plot has elements of Romeo and Juliet, with the daughter of the creepy Addams family falling in love with the son of a very normal, conformist family, creating a seemingly impossible conflict. They go through various tribulations in the twists and turns of the drama, exploring the deeper meanings of love and marriage for both families, having a lot of black humor mixed with genuine insights.
Julia Frohn and Patricia Jacobs were superb as co-directors and Kenneth Grenier ably conducted the nine-piece orchestra, with assistant music director Cassandra Heleba. Co-producers were Nick Allen and Kenneth Grenier and the well-coordinated choreography was by Selina-Mae French.
In the Addams family, Patrick Houle was the father, Gomez, consistently in character, and Taryn Noelle was the mother, Morticia, showing impressive acting ability and an especially lovely voice.
Danny Miller played the peculiar Uncle Fester to fine effect, while Hellen LeClair Jurnak gave a lively portrayal of the Grandma.
Jayce Gann as the young son demonstrated real talent as Pugsley. Niels Giddens as the butler, Lurch, was a wonderful looming presence in his height and solemn demeanor. The daughter, Wednesday, was performed by Morgan Sargent with convincing presence and a very fine, pure voice.
In the entirely opposite Beineke family, Kolin Shaw was excellent as the son Lucas and had an expressive voice with admirable color. Chris Demars was perfectly cast as the father, Mal, and his wife, Alice, came to life through Holly Biracree’s enthusiasm, particularly when she belted out her song after consuming a drugged drink.
Supporting players consisting of the Addams ancestors, all dressed in white: Siena Bebarfald, Alora Becker, Quincy Boardman, Brian Cococcia, Wiley Delisa, Ash Devecchio, Jacab Dow, Maeve Dunn, Lily-Jean French, Zach Phillips, Meredith Roberts, June Schoolcraft, Sarah Schoolcraft, Janae Tabony and Donna Lee Wescom. Members of the orchestra were Carol Spaulding, Isaac Besso, Joni McCraw, Danielle Transciatti-Holmberg, Cassandra Heleba, Carol Towle, Daniel Gavira, Nick Allen and Eliot Waring, all conducted by Kenneth Grenier.
The next performances will be this coming weekend on Friday, June 26, through Saturday, June 27, at 7 p.m., and on Sunday, June 28, at 2 p.m.
For more information, call (802) 888-4507 or go online at lcplayers.com or [email protected]. It was a full house last Sunday so reservations would be advisable. You will regret having missed this spectacular show.
David K. Rodgers
David K. Rodgers is a writer, mason and card carrying dilettante, who dabbles and babbles in art. He has lived in East Craftsbury for the past 40 years.
