Happy. Sad.
Every so often you are challenged with an opportunity, and when those challenges arise, you sometimes actually rise to meet them. Such has been the case with taking on the lead role of Gomez in The Addams Family. It was daunting, but oh, so fun. And this production would be nowhere near as wonderful had it not been for the hard work and collaboration of an entire group of people.
The Addams Family doesn’t have you questioning the meaning of life. But it will give you pause from the crazy world to laugh, and maybe cry, and in general, to enjoy an escape from the seriousness of it all. I have actually had audience members tell me they saw the same struggles, successes, and little skirmishes they encounter in their daily lives. What an amazing compliment!
When setting out on the journey to embody the “crahzy Castilian” my goal was to find some humor in the absurdity of it all, but to also make this quirky patriarch accessible – he is human after all (or at least I think he is). That my wife is beautiful and vibrant, with limbs that would span the state has been another rewarding challenge. Busted lip notwithstanding, I loved seeing Gomez maneuver through scenes with this lovely woman, searching for ways to restore peace and bring his family back to its own version of normalcy. Sound familiar to anyone? I think we all do this. I understand Gomez’s love of family- it mimics my own, albeit seen through a lens full of macabre and bizarre antics. But don’t we all think at least some of our family’s antics are bizarre? The sense of family in this cast runs deep.
And so, when the reality of his daughter’s coming of age wreaks havoc, this man pulls the reigns to set the course right. I have been blessed to be on stage with two incredibly talented young women whose portrayal of Wednesday, while slightly different in approach, nevertheless had me feeling protective of my daughter. I love them both dearly and, honestly, find it difficult to get through “that song” without breaking up. But everyone knows I’m a hopelessly romantic sap. Get over it; daddies cry. What family hasn’t experienced the petulance of a pre-teen child? Weren’t we all confused by the changes in life that accompany that shift just before adulthood?
Just another family skirmish. Connor is a talented young man who so perfectly captures what this means. Trying to find ways to deal with siblings who choose a different path from your own is a challenge. And the older you get, the more you come to realize two people don’t always end up on the same road to the future on this planet (or outer space). Ironically, on stage, my brother is the one who is a bit more crazy than me. Ask my siblings and they’ll tell you I’m the nut, so in this instance, I experienced an interesting role reversal. But then, as Morticia says, “Family is still family.” This doesn’t change, so the best you can do is accept this fact.
And there’s that whole thing about respecting your elders – or at least finding ways to acknowledge their tenure on this planet while “dealing with” their foibles. The things we find quirky in our older generations are probably not much different than those they found in their parents-right? And when you add your extended family, living AND dead, you discover layers and layers of family history and dynamics that can only make this ride called life more rich, more quirky, and more bizarre. But then don’t our families shape who we are? And are we not enriched by their history? The stories passed down from generation to generation make for some interesting conversation. Each one of these people brings with them a different chapter.
Along the way, you encounter people who provide yet another set of stories and paths to explore, both familiar and new. More foibles. More stories. More layers. All worthy, and all enriching. Some people are different from other people. But we’re all people, and we all come to realize our humanity unites us, no matter what. Leading us all on the journey are people whose talent shows in our performances.
Our director, Jamie Carr Harrington, whose growing friendship I so appreciate, gave us the latitude to explore and have fun. Amanda Hines shaped the vocals of the entire cast and yet allowed for nuanced interpretation where the “crazy Castilian” didn’t want to place the notes as written, in favor of, perhaps a more character-driven approach. Tracy Steele showed amazing patience in helping me put my feet where they belonged.
The building of Gomez Addams
Finding the character and building him physically and emotionally was an incredibly rewarding challenge. To my castmates, I give thanks for your talent and your support.
Tonight The Addams Family closes. And as Clayton the man bids farewell to Gomez the character, and to his family, for now, I can say I am happy. Well, happy and sad. Happy to have had this opportunity to embody this man and add more layers to my life. Happy to have worked with this amazing family and cast of characters. And sad to see it come to a close. Happy Sad. Happy Sad.
“It’s like the bull, when the matador put the sword into him. He look at the matador and say “Nice job. I hate you.””
GOMEZ ADDAMS
This is another chapter and another layer. There are stories told and untold. We’ve had a good run and got the chance to share the story with appreciative audiences.
And so, I am happy. And sad. And satisfied.
Peace out.
