The Addams Family musical is adapted from the Broadway show, created by Jersey Boys authors Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, and it’s every father’s nightmare: “Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family – a man her parents have never met. And if that wasn’t upsetting enough, Wednesday confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before – keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s ‘normal’ boyfriend and his parents.”
Clearview resident Lorie Hanley is playing the role of Morticia in an upcoming Kempenfelt Community Players production of the beloved musical.
She said it’s tricky for the cast to play such beloved characters.
“I think you have to stay true to the characters or people are going to walk away disappointed,” said Hanley.
Hanley said she spent a lot of time contemplating how she would approach it while deciding to audition for Morticia, the matriarch of the Addams Family, so she was thrilled to receive the role.
“It was a bit of a shock to me. She is a completely different character than anything I’ve ever played so it took a lot of thought for me,” said Hanley, who is accustomed to playing outlandish comedic characters, with a much different vibe from Morticia’s dark, stoic intensity.
The core cast also includes Darryn Stephen as Gomez, Taylor Byer-Nicoloff as Wednesday, and Dylan Stephen as Pugsley.
“It’s a crazy show, it really is,” said Hanley, laughing. “Fester is in love with the moon, Wednesday shoots animals at the Central Park Zoo – Gomez is just this way playful guy and he’s paired with this extremely passionate, serious woman and it’s just crazy all around how it all unfolds.”
“I think people will be surprised by the talent that they see on stage. Our chorus is fantastic. We’ve got young and older people who can really move the harmonies,” said Hanley.
She said the costumes are beautiful including Morticia’s dress, which is “cut down to Venezuela” and there is an elaborate set with secret doors.
“I think people will be wowed and most people will walk out feeling great,” said Hanley.
Hanley is a lifelong performer. She started taking vocal lessons in Grade 7 at the encouragement of her music teacher. Growing up in Stratford she got involved with high school productions and community theatre before moving to Barrie for Grade 12, where she landed one of the lead roles. After graduation she continued on with theatre, taking on countless roles throughout the years as she raised four children.
Her two sons have joined her in a Kempenfelt Community Players production when the were eight and nine years old. Then last year, her husband John joined the chorus for the first time and got the bug. He is returning for The Addams Family chorus.
Kempenfelt Community Players was founded in 1977 by a group of educators, Teachers’ Music Theatre Workshop. Offered as a course to teachers who were learning how to mount shows in their schools, it had a long and successful run with a loyal audience for more than 20 years, shifting away from teaching and towards community theatre.
In 2000, the company was resurrected and changed its name to the Kempenfelt Community Players.
Hanley was one of a small group who formed a board of directors and incorporated to secure the future of the theatre company.
“I decided I couldn’t allow this to fold because it was just too important to the community,” said Hanley.
They produce three musicals productions per year, including one for youth.
The Addams Family will be on stage at the Georgian Theatre in Barrie from Feb. 8-18. Tickets are on sale now with performances running Thursday through Sunday for two weeks. The is an ASL supported performance at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 11.
Tickets start at $27 and are available at www.kempenfeltplayers.com.