Projected talented vocals, flashing lights, smoke and catchy sing-along songs played by the orchestra filled up the Hammer Theatre Center for a San José State-run production of “The Addams Family” musical on Friday.
“The Addams Family” is a musical written by American playwrights Marshall Brickman and Rick Elic that tells the stories of a father’s worst nightmare, according to the Hammer Theatre Center’s website.
Wednesday Addams, the daughter of the Addams Family, falls in love with a man her family has never met. Wednesday confesses this to her father, Gomez Addams, and then begs him to not tell her mother Morticia Addams.
I would best describe the Addams family as a dark and strange dynamic whose family members love each other, but they’re interested in death, darkness and continuing to be strange.
The audience watches Gomez Addams go through a rollercoaster of an adventure while having to keep a secret from his wife for the first time of their relationship.
Once the secret was out that Wednesday has a boyfriend, the Addams family has to dread their biggest fear of all – having to act “normal” for a family dinner with Wednesday’s boyfriend’s parents, Mal and Alice Beineke, and him, Lucas Beineke.
The suspenseful and hilarious storyline is incorporated into each of the many different songs throughout the play. I myself have heard of the Addams family but had no idea what any of their stories were or their family storyline.
While watching, it feels like the play doesn’t go longer than four minutes without another song played by the characters. Gomez, Wednesday and multiple other main characters each had more than two of their own solo songs.
Music junior Ivan Vielma, who plays the role of Gomez Addams, said there were other songs that held a lot of personal meaning to him, but the song “Not Today” has been his favorite song to sing and perform.
“It is just so fun, with so much agility that comes with it,” Vielma said. “It was so hard to learn, but I learned it and that’s just one of my favorites to perform now.”
The audience watches as Gomez Addams and the rest of the Addams family react to Wednesday’s love interest and the settings of the stage change along with them.
A giant glowing moon shines through the Addams’ house, tall dark windows float up, grave stones in their front yard, and glowy pink, green and blue sky lights fill up the theater.
Vocal and music director Amy Young is a San José State Alum who said the easiest and fun part about the production of “The Addams Family” is the students and staff that are involved.
“These people are so fun, passionate, upbeat and have the greatest energy,” Young said. “Even though the hours are so long, it’s so fulfilling and I leave in such a better mood than when I came in. I think that’s the mark of a really good process and a really good team.”
She said that everyone on every staff team made the production come together both easily and beautifully through hard work and rehearsals.
Theater arts sophomore Jordan Michelena is the stage manager of the play and said her job is to coordinate everything from the beginning in the auditions, to every little detail managing every person’s job and role.
Michelena said she was beyond happy with the turnout of opening night.
“Everything about tonight was unbelievable,” Michelena said. “I could not have expected a better outcome.”
She said that for other performances of “The Addams Family” and future San José State plays, she has hope that more students will get involved and either watch more shows, audition for roles or join the production crew.
Other showings for the San José State-run “The Addams Family” can be continued to be watched and enjoyed by everyone from Nov. 15-19, according to the official San José State production’s calendar.
