The Addams Family: Number by Number

Last weekend, the Performing Arts Company of DHS staged a virtual live production of the Addams Family. The musical was performed by a talented, socially distanced cast. Overall, directors Steven Bergman and Maryann Zschau succeeded in creating a highly entertaining experience. Let's go through each number.

With the opening number, When You’re An Addams, the audience meets the Addams Family and all the members of the Addams “clan.” Throughout the song, the viewers watch and get a preview of the personalities on display within the show. The choreography, created by Emma Bergman, exceed expectations and make the socially distant musical feel close.

For the following number, we see Gomez, played by Ahmed Reda, struggle with the internal conflict inflicted by his daughter Wednesday (Maeve Keogh). Trapped is a song that makes the audience think and leaves them on the edge of their seats.

The vocals for the next song are phenomenal and leave everyone in awe. Freshman Maeve Keogh hits every note beautifully as she takes us through Wednesday’s journey of discovering love. Pulled is one of the show-stopping numbers of the musical.

The first full company number is executed masterfully, as we see the merging of the families as they prepare for dinner. One Normal Night expresses the desires of both Wednesday Addams and Lucas Beineke (Ben Pfeifer) to have a normal dinner.

The next series of songs are called What If. These songs display the characters' struggles with the future of their family relationships. The audience is brought close to tears by the performances given by Max Gorman and Ahmed Reda.

Full Disclosure is another number performed by the whole company. As an imaginary chalice is being passed from person to person, the audience is blown away with outstanding vocal performances.

Waiting, performed by Maddie Aucoin, has everyone loathing Mal Beineke (Madison Grabert). Maddie takes the audience through the reckless emotions that come with the life of being married to Mal. Everyone was stunned at the effortless talent and emotion Maddie presents.

After learning of the disappointments of Morticia’s (Yahaira Torres) marriage, the crowd isn’t surprised to see a number like Just Around the Corner. This number takes the show to a whole other level theatricality-speaking. The dancing is different from all the previous performances. The talents of Yahaira Torres take us out of the DHS auditorium and bring us to a Broadway theater.

Following the showy performance is a heartfelt scene featuring Wednesday Addams and Gomez. The audience gets a better understanding of Gomez’s emotional struggle with Wednesday’s growing up. Happy Sad has the audience look back on all the hardships of their life as performed by Ahmed Reda and Maeve Keogh.

We experience the triumphs of love with Ben Pfeifer and Maeve Keough's performance of Crazier Than You. The choreography is exceptional and has the audience joining in.

The combination of Let's Live Before We Die and the tango between Morticia and Gomez give the audience the happy ending they desperately want. The mood of the show is completely changed as everyone witnesses the impressively performed recovery of the Addams’ relationship.

Last, but not least, comes the finale, Move Towards the Darkness. This number shows off the excellent vocals of Erin Tobin, who plays Lurch. Ironically, after spending most his stage time in silence, Lurch gets to sing out the show and make everything come full-circle.