Families are all bizarre, with each one carrying their own quirky traits; but what happens when one creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky family has to deal with the fact that their beloved daughter has fallen in love with a “normal” boy? The season finale of the San Jose Stage Company’s 2014-2015 season musical, featuring the all together ooky Addams Family.
With previews today, June 3, through Friday and opening on Saturday, June 6, The Addams Family musical is sure to prove that years after the television show ended and movies were made, Gomez and Morticia Addams are just as fun and entertaining as ever.
“The set design is very gory-looking and Director Tony Kelly has an odd sense of humor so he’s perfectly suited for this production,” says Sound Designer and Santa Clara resident John Koss. “He’s directing it with an odd skew. Design-wise there are not a lot of sound effects, but it’s a very visual show. The challenge is for the musical numbers because we have the band pretty much on stage. They’re not in a pit or backstage out of site. They’re really on the stage right side of the performance space.”
Because of the nature of the creative show, and Kelly’s “quirky sense of humor,” Koss was able to utilize non-traditional sounds when developing the show’s effects, adding that one of the most interesting sound aspects is a scene involving the shooting of an arrow. “The moment starts and it kind of goes into a Matrix-like slow motion sequence for a short period of time,” says Koss. “Trying to embellish the sound is interesting during that period.”
San Jose Stage is known for its edgy and funny performances, using its intimate venue to draw in the audience and keep them engaged. This production is no different, with The Stage using lighting, sound and design to set the mood and keep the audience engrossed throughout the duration of each show.
“The lighting is just great,” says Koss. “Everything just kind of comes together to make you believe you’re at the Addams Family mansion in Central Park. It has that feel to it. The cast is excellent both musically and as far as the comedy aspect of acting.”
“The Addams Family has plenty of the deliciously dark humor of the famous cartoons and the TV series, but it’s also a very, very clever and touching musical story,” says Kelly. “Have you ever wondered, ‘why can’t my family be more normal’? Have you ever fallen in love with someone and had second thoughts about who they really are?This musical weds mordant hilarity with emotional moments that might sneak up and surprise you, and in the hands of this really gifted cast, I think everyone who sees it is going to take away some moments they’ll remember for a long, long time.”
The Addams Family runs through July 26 at the San Jose Stage Company, 490 South First Street in San Jose. Shows are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20-$65 and available through www.thestage.org or by calling (408) 283-7142.