BWW Reviews: Copperstar Rep's THE ADDAMS FAMILY Is Fair Fun But Flawed Fare

I've got to hand it to Mary-Jo Okawa, the founder and artistic producing director of Copperstar Repertory Company, highlighting its seventh season with the fun-loving musical comedy, The Addams Family. (Snap your fingers twice!) This multi-talented educator manifests her commitment to education, entertainment, and community enrichment in the true spirit of community theatre, providing an opportunity for people of all ages at different levels of talent to strut their stuff, learn the craft, and enjoy the art.

To these ends, The Addams Family, with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and based on Charles Addams's iconic and lovable characters, is a great choice.

At its annual graveyard gathering, all hell breaks loose when Morticia (Janna Hanson) and Gomez (Harmon Swartz) learn rather circuitously that their daughter Wednesday (Shanti Okawa) is in love with Lucas Beineke, (Nick Gunnell), a mere mortal. When Lucas's parents (Tina Reynolds and Steve Morgan) visit to meet the prospective in-laws, thanks to the pranks of brother Pugsley (Sammy Siaki), the plot unfolds in predictably twisted fashion.

Throughout the production, the play's muse and its central source of amusement is the moon-loving (literally!) Fester, endearingly portrayed by Geoffrey Goorin.

Janna Hanson's rich voice and classy presence make for a delightful and netherworldly wise Morticia. She belts out a cool rendition of Just Around the Corner, which made me wish that the composers had written more songs for her to perform.

Okawa is not only the director, but she's the costume designer, the set co-designer (with David Okawa), and the properties manager. And every element that she touches shows quality and attention to detail. From the continental suave of Morticia and Gomez to the frumpy Fester to the pale wraiths, the wardrobe is stylish and finely-tailored. The sets, from the graveyard to the mansion, are (shall I coin a phrase!) haute ghoul.

As enjoyable as the show may be, there are some significant elements that need to be fixed for it to get an A or a B for that matter ~ specifically, glitches in timing on sound and lighting, blocking, and, if possible, pitchy voices in key roles.

All in all, with an energetic ensemble, the production is just plain fun...but flawed in places that hopefully can be corrected before the show ends its run at the technically well-endowed Mesa Arts Center on October 11th.

Photo credit to Tim Trumble Photography

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