Addams Family musical is entertainingly horrifying with strong vocal performance, ensemble numbers

In the topsy-turvy world of the Addams Family — where black is the brightest acceptable color, roses are harvested for their thorns, and Morticia expressing dreadful unhappiness delights her husband — the Rooftop Players production of The Addams Family Musical is entertainingly horrifying.

Based upon Charles Addams’ comic characters and, of course, the iconic TV series and film franchise, the show finds paterfamilias Gomez Addams firmly skewered upon the horns a the dilemma of keeping faith with the two greatest loves of his life.

Daughter, Wednesday has felt the sting of cupid’s arrow and swears her doting father to secrecy. Unfortunately, Gomez has never kept anything from his “Cara Mia” and is quite abysmal in the secrets keeping department.

The plot develops as Wednesday’s true love, Lucas, his mother, and father arrive at the Addams’ home for dinner. Lucas and Wednesday’s dream of weaving their disparate families together immediately begin to unravel.

Not just is the boy “normal,” but he and his parents actually wear brightly colored clothing. Wednesday even arrives in a sympathetic yellow blazer.

Not to fear as Uncle Fester, Grandma, and a host of departed ancestors dedicate themselves to getting these kids hitched.

Overall the show was entertaining, with plenty of good laughs and some good musical moments. Jay Tilley plays a wonderfully kerfuddled Gomez Addams, with excellent timing and a host of facial expressions that immediately capture and hold the empathetic attention of the audience.

Sarah Jane Scott’s Morticia is statuesque, and haughtily icy, just waiting for Gomez’ fiery, Latin touch. Abby Dahl does a wonderful job of balancing the serious, menacing Wednesday Addams, with her brand new feelings of, dare we say, joy? And, when she and Ryan Walker’s Lucas’ voices blend, it would thaw even the ancestors’ cold, long-dead hearts.

The audience asides are wonderfully done, especially as Daniel Holmes’ Festus serves as narrator, and Betsy Hansen’s Grandma asks a few pointed questions of those on the front row. Holmes’ vocal performance is exceptionally strong, as are the ensemble numbers, with the ancestors.

The cast handles some intricate harmonies quite well, as the ancestors do an excellent job of remaining in ghostly character, throughout, and are a vital (if predominantly silent) element of the show’s success.

All-in-all, The Addams Family is an enjoyable evening of community theatre, with plenty of things to crow (or raven) about.

The Addams Family runs for one more weekend at The Candy Factory, in Manassas. More information and tickets are available at center-for-the-arts.org.

David Britt is a notorious thespian and an unrepentant technical theater junkie. Locally, David has been involved with the Prince William Little Theatre, and for the past few years, he has been lost in The City of Fairfax Theatre Company. He enjoys all aspects of community theater.