Kids give mature performances, but keep the fun in The box’s ‘Addams family’

By MARILYN JOZWIK

Published Oct. 5, 2019

It seems that so many musicals these days have a “Junior” version. I can see that it works with plays like “Mary Poppins” or “The Music Man.” But I was curious to see how it would work with “The Addams Family,” being presented by The Box Theatre Company

My curiosity was squelched and the answer is “wonderfully.”

This young cast – mostly around middle-school age – gave mature performances, without losing any of the youthful delight in their characterizations. The junior version keeps basically the same elements of the adult take, minus a couple songs. Morticia (Hailey Moskalik) and Gomez (Isaac Visser) are “more sweet than sexy,” said Allison Chicorel, who, along with Jason Beaumont, directed the show.

“The Addams Family” features the characters from the popular TV show, adding some catchy tunes and a charming story centering around the Addams daughter, Wednesday (Sailor Ames). It seems Wednesday has been seeing a young man, Lucas Beineke(nicely portrayed by Brady Schiro), in the park while practicing her crossbow and wants to marry him. But unlike the eccentric Addams Family – whose butler (Jimmy Brewer) grunts, whose grandma concocts potions, whose two kids take delight in literally torturing each other, whose Uncle Fester is in love with the moon – the Beineke’s are a typical family. In the Addams family, macabre is embraced and death and dying are hot topics in this family. That’s why Wednesday is so concerned about this normal boy from Ohio meeting her family.

Wednesday tells her dad her plans, but insists he not tell her mother because she wouldn’t understand. But when Gomez tries to keep that secret, it only leads to tension in this strange family.

I really enjoyed everything about this show. The cast – which was well-chosen for the characters -- displays such maturity with the adult roles that you forget just how young they are. The pacing is perfect, with everyone on their “A” game with good vocals and performances.

Visser, as Gomez, takes charge as the head of the household, but there is a very soft and charming side that contrasts with the steely façade of Morticia. It’s not an easy task to play the father of a performer who’s older, but Visser has no problem playing fatherly – and husbandly – roles.

As Morticia, Moskalik is a great match for Visser’s Gomez. She maintains a placid countenance and low voice throughout, plus delivers lots of great one-liners with impeccable timing. She slinks about the stage in her tight, short black dress, bright red lipstick and heels in the first act, but dons black ballet slippers for her second act tango with Gomez, which was beautifully executed, each partner maintaining elegant posture in the sophisticated number.

Sailor Ames as Wednesday is at the center of the family tension and Ames handles the attention with aplomb. Ames pours herself into the role, wringing out lots of emotion in the “Pulled” number – plus handling the lightning fast lyrics. Ames’ Wednesday battles with her dilemma – how does she introduce this “normal” boy to her very unconventional family? Ames, too, displays tremendous maturity in the role, as well as very strong vocals.

Matching Ames in her hefty vocals is Eloise Field as Alice Beineke. This might be the most difficult role, as Alice must transform from her sunny personality -- which Field portrays so wonderfully, speaking with sing-songy, high-pitched rhymes – to one whose dark side erupts after she drinks one of Grandma’s concoctions. Field lets loose as she tells her dark secret during “The Full Disclosure” scene.

As Uncle Fester, William Kastner provides an effective low-key performance that gives Fester a sort of wise persona and, occasionally, a wise guy quality. His sweet “The Moon & Me” describes his bizarre infatuation with the moon as he sings, “A quarter million miles away, that’s a good distance for romance.”

The youngest Addams, Pugsley (Cameron Krieser), has some fine moments which endear the audience to him and his family. Pugsley is upset about his sister’s romance, worrying that there will be no one to torture him. Krieser displays some well-timed, deadpan humor as when Grandma (Eloise Slipper) casually asks, “How’s life?” and he responds, with the burdens of the world in his voice, “Too long.”

Simeon Adrian as Mal Beineke, Lucas’ father, has a good tone for Lucas’ dad and takes charge of the catchy, upbeat “Crazier Than You” with Alice, Lucas and Wednesday.

The six Addams ancestors (Evelyn Bartos, Marina Evans, Brett Mitchell, Jaela Landowski, Natalie Rhodes and Reagan Russ) are fun additions to the show, each with distinct costume characteristics (pirate, flapper, etc.), but all in ghostly white.

Costuming and makeup helped give the young cast the right looks for their roles.

Chicorel, who also serves as vocal director and choreographer, really has this group well-prepared as the actors provide strong ensemble vocals and crisp dance moves. The cast size never seemed to overwhelm the small stage, the performers maintaining passive faces while keeping movement tight and sharp.

I hadn’t seen Terri Field’s work on set design for a while at The Box and was so pleased to see her white chalky designs covering the black walls, including a chair, staircase and fireplace. Some turned purple in the lighting, giving scenes a fresh look without any scene movement.

And while the show contains references only adults might understand (a character said to change from “Mary Poppins to Medea”), there are lots of funny bits that the youngsters in the crowd loved.

If you go

Who: The Box Theatre Company

What: “The Addams Family Jr.”

When: Through Oct. 13

Where: W359 N5920 Brown St., Unit 101, Oconomowoc

Tickets/Info: 262-560-0564; wwwboxtheatreco.org