REVIEW: The Addams Family at ROH

Amanda Dane and Kevin Mahaney as Morticia and Gomez (Courtesy Photo)

WHAT: The Addams Family

WHERE: Rochester Opera House

BLURB: All Together Kooky

HIGH POINT: The Deft Portrayal Of Iconic Characters And The Voices!

ROH's The Addams Family is a ridiculous, freaky, hilarious, and frightfully entertaining tribute to the season, featuring shockingly deft artistry.

If you love reveling in the spooky season, this is a "must do," not only for its beloved subjects, but for the smashing portrayals of all its iconic, quirky, ooky characters.

If you love reveling in the spooky season, this is a "must do," not only for its beloved subjects, but for the smashing portrayals of all its iconic, quirky, ooky characters.

The Addams tribe, originally a cartoon-panel series, has been a Halloween cult fav since they took to television in the mid '60s eponymous series, and subsequent movies, animations and the most recent Wednesday, series.

The Addams are a delightfully dark, macabre, tight-knit and loving family, oblivious to their peculiarities.

The Family (Courtesy Photo)

The living include: parents Morticia (Amanda Dane) and Gomez (Kevin Mahaney), children Wednesday (Michelle Faria) and Pugsly (Michael Mone), Uncle Fester (Chris Bradley), Grandma (Erica Skoglund), and butler Lurch (James Pates).

The musical (which swings from upbeat to dark) focuses on loyalty and love of family - dead and alive - and on romantic love.

Wednesday has fallen in love with Lucas (Samuel Tolley) a "regular" boy. This situation puts circumstances in play that disrupt the immediate and broader family, and threatens its bonds. It doesn't do much for Alice and Mal Beineke either, Lucas' parents (Robert Prue and Katie Gall respectfully).

Like all its previous iterations this Addams romp has nothing grounded in reality outside of the human emotions. It's high silliness, often nonsensical and incredibly delightful for it, which is only possible due to the canny portrayals of these iconic characters.

To a person this family's casting is exactly what it should be. So many have voices that fly, and mannerisms that ground - a wickedly wonderful combination.

The relationship between Gomez and Morticia, vital to the show, is thoroughly believable in the hands of Mahaney and Dane. This story hangs on this thread and the two talented performers keep it taut and true.

Mahaney, again, proves himself a master of comedy - his clear, decisive and rich facial gestures perfectly married to script and body expression. Just magnificent.

Amanda Dane as Morticia (Courtesy Photo)

Dane, per usual, delivers a keen, polished performance. And while lots of voices will be noted here, her power and clarity make her one of the best.

Both Faria as Wednesday and Gall as Alice create strong, smart and distinct personas. (Gall's dinner routine a jaw dropping triumph, and Faria's flat affect impeccable.) Better still, the two bring soaring voices, powerful, clean and beautiful - truly something special and completely satisfying.

Then there's Bradley. Once again this performer proves himself a marvelous comedic character actor. This time around he creates one of the funniest, most touching Festers ever witnessed, a wonderful direction by both Director Jenry Towle and Bradley.

Bradley's man-child Fester is bizarre and beautiful, and completely endearing. What a smashing performance this is, not to be missed.

Skoglund as Grandma does what Skoglund does - fearlessly creates a unique, quirky, hilarious and riveting character. Everything about the performance is on point.

Tolley, another fine voice, makes for a perfect geeky Lucas, and More - yet another lovely voice - is the perfect bratty brother, while Pates' Lurch is everything Lurch should be.

Prue as Mal holds his own, but didn't appear thoroughly comfortable in his character, during opening weekend.

Family and Ancestors; center is Michelle Faria as Wednesday (Courtesy Photo)

Now the ensemble - the Addams' deceased ancestors, there to help the living along. These roles feel more weighty and important than most ensemble characters, and are a large part of the show's success.

First there is that powerful, gorgeous sound that fills the space and moves the chest each time their voices commingle in song - just phenomenal. As individuals, each delivers a strong, consistent character. Finally - they deliver wonderful song and dance scenes, deftly choreographed by Jo Meallo.

All the production numbers are energetic and artful, but a number of them are show stoppers, for example the dramatic The Moon & Me with Fester, and a Morticia routine, all with Ancestor assist. The Tango De Amor with Gomez and Morticia, along with the Ancestors, is worth the price of the ticket.

Director Towle nails casting, then works her characters to perfection. Her collaboration with Meallo and the numerous production scenes is seamless, as is her pacing and her scene changes.

The supporting arts are equally splendid. Dane Leeman's sets are, as always, works of art. Lighting design by Christian Arnold enhances, as does the SFX programming by Patrick Dorow. Dorow's music direction, including programming the pre-recorded instrumental tracks, is spot on.

The costume design by Lesley Neilson-Bowman and Amanda Dane (oh those ghosts!) with wigs by Dorow are perfection - well detailed, and illustrative.

So, revel in the season, spooksters! And if theater is not on your list of holiday celebratory events, then your experience is just not complete.

The talent on and off stage is frighteningly fabulous. Time to drop in on the Addams, most definitely worth your horrifyingly scarce discretionary time, not going could haunt you for years to come.

WHERE: Rochester Opera House

WHEN: Through Nov. 5

COST: $26 to $30, Children's tickets $10 each with the purchase of one adult ticket.

CONTACT/INFO: 603-335-1992 or www.RochesterOperaHouse.com