District News

All families are unique to say the least… especially the Addams, with their penchant for the creepy, the kooky, and the altogether spooky! Performing to a packed house on both November 20th and 21st, the Bernardsville Middle School Drama Club impressed audiences with their rendition of The Addams Family! Auditions for the musical comedy were held in early fall and practices began on September 13th. The cast and crew worked diligently for 10 weeks on the sets, costumes, script, and music. 

Act I began with the full cast performing When You’re an Addams. It was quick to grab everyone’s attention with funny line dancing, the bunny hop, and the twist - Addams family style - and laughter erupted from the audience when the last dance move was rigor mortis! Following that, Uncle Fester played his ukulele with the support of ancestors from the crypt, in Fester’s Manifesto. Wednesday and Pugsley went on to share a sibling rivalry/bonding moment as Wednesday is being pulled in a different direction. She then explains to her father, who is sworn to secrecy, that she has found love in a boy named Lucas Beineke. Her mother Morticia senses something is awry, wondering what is “wrong" with Wednesday since she is actually smiling! Her husband Gomez’s actions are suspect as well, so she seeks to uncover the truth. In an upbeat and ironic performance of One Normal Night by the full cast, it is clear that Wednesday and Lucas want just that, one “normal” night, for themselves and their families. When the Addams and Beineke families meet, greeted first by a grunting Lurch, the actors continue to deliver line after line with humor and wit. In the final scenes before intermission, the group plays a “game” called Full Disclosure. In a hilarious plot twist, Pugsley has stolen 102-year-old Grandma’s potion which gets into the hands of Lucas’ mother and a whole new level of chaos ensues. After a brief intermission, the cast has to make sense of the secrets confessed, as they sing numerous catchy tunes including Crazier Than You. The audience was mesmerized by the characters’ development as they learned if Wednesday and Lucas were meant to be.

The choreography was on point with all actors hitting their marks, and the delivery of lines, both in dialogue and lyrics, turned young love drama into family comedy. From the opening of Act I with its serious, morose facial expressions and dark, gothic costumes…to the rousing finale of Act II with bursts of color and energy…the BMS Drama Club production of The Addams Family was able to deliver a magnificent macabre musical that did not disappoint.

Congratulations to the Cast: Darcy Canberg as Wednesday, Noah Flinn as Gomez, Poppy Pickett as Morticia, Gwen Finnerty as Uncle Fester, Emme Wasserman as Pugsley, Jillian Pooler as Grandma, Joey Gomez as Lurch, Jack Panikas as Lucas, Alicia Moffet as Alice, Aubrey Rocha as Mal; Featured Ancestors: Pearl Markey, Madison Thorsen, Rahima Wellington, Gillian Goodwin, and Casey Tigre; Ancestors: Gabby Casas, Sarah Da Silveira, Ella Hunscher, Anastasia Tsereteli, Allyson Castillo-Escobar, and Caroline Aquino; Crew: Henry Olufade and Patrick Mitchell on Lights; Alex Kurelja on Sound; Claire Crooks and Kit Hajjar on Photography, Set & Props; Maia Lewis,  Doug O'Donnell, and Roee Ben-Shimon on Set & Props; Lucia Valente and Isabella Monk on Costumes;  Sophia Kapoor, Kaitlyn Ziolkowski, and Haley DeMarie on Make-up. Special thanks to Director Allyssa Jurgens, Assistant Drama Director Julie Weinstein and BHS Student Assistant Emily Mann.