‘The Addams Family Broadway Musical’: A spectacle of Cebuano talent

CEBU, Philippines — ‘Tis the season to be spooky as Vaudeville Theatre Company (VTC) brings “The Addams Family Broadway Musical” to Cebu. The creepy, kooky, spooky, ooky Addams family will be brought to life by Cebuano talents just in time for Halloween month.

Based on the Broadway musical of the same name, VTC’s “The Addams Family Broadway Musical” circles in on Wednesday Addams. Now 18 years old, Wednesday finds herself experiencing a surprising new sensation – one that frightens both her and her macabre family. Wednesday has fallen in love, and with Lucas Beineke. Indeed, the Addams family will never be the same as they learn to relate to Lucas and his seemingly normal family, as well as cope with Wednesday’s romance.

With VTC founder Penelop “Penny” Ong as artistic director, Alfie Mosqueda as stage director and Vince Gaton as dance director, “The Addams Family Broadway Musical” promises to be a spectacle of local talent.

After months of preparation (auditions began April this year), from almost a hundred auditionees, the characters moving in the world of the Addams family was finally put together. Indeed it takes something unique inside of you to be an Addams, and the VTC cast and crew likes to think of them as a mix of quirky, fun-loving, happy, open, and talented people who have become family in the process.

Rana Sai Lavador and Alexandrea Mae Alix will alternate as Wednesday Addams, while Van Duke Gacayan and Mark Stephen Cuizon alternate for the role of Lucas Beineke. Playing the man of the Addams household, Gomez, is Edison Saynes, while Jeanette Lavilla portrays the commanding Morticia. Following his sister Wednesday around like a puppy is Tyler Axell Tolentino as Pugsley. Clark Van Daryl Jolbot plays Fester, while Tiffany Neri portrays Grandma. Kevin Reams completes the Addams household as Lurch. Mal and Alice Beineke will be brought to life by Oscar Vincent Silang and Sunshine Atup who alternates with Khristine Consuegra. More talents make up the whole musical, with cast members hailing all the way from Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, and even Ohio, United States.

“We advocate for world-class shows by our proud Cebuanos,” Ong said during the press conference at Golden Prince Hotel. “We are very privileged to have a group of amazing and talented cast and crew.

The theatre director shared that “Addams Family” is their follow-up to “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” for the mainstream stage. Asked why they decided to present the tale of the Addams to Cebuanos, Ong said it’s because it hits close to home.

“Like Charlie Brown, I grew up also with the Addams. I like to do shows I grew up with. Charlie was one, and this [Addams Family] is one. And I like the spooky weirdness of the family because I’m weird myself,” she explained.

VTC has also done a bit of tweaking to the story and vision, adding a bit of steam punk vibe to the characters’ wardrobe. The company shared how challenging it is to not only stage “The Addams Family,” but to put up a show in general because of how tricky it is to convince people to support the production, if not the cause.

“We Cebuanos are really talented. A way of solving limited supplies is resourcefulness,” costume designer Peewee =Senining said. “I’ve been thinking a lot how to realize the vision of Miss Pen’s idea of the characters. We came up with steam punk to make it more different.”

To the initiated, the dynamic within the Addams family is nothing close to mundane. As VTC brings the ghoulish family to the Cebu stage, Ong reassures viewers that this version of “The Addams Family Broadway Musical” can be enjoyed by the whole family.

“You might be questioning if it’s fit for kids to watch because if you’ve seen clips on YouTube, they’re quite mature. But the version we’ve got is kind of watered-down without the sexual innuendos. We toned it down so that it’s child-friendly and good for the whole family,” said Ong, adding that she constantly asks actors to keep it as clean and PG as possible. “Rest assured that we’re always being careful with what we say on stage and the gestures.”

Existing to provide Cebuano artists an avenue for expression on stage, as well as train local amateur actors to present high quality productions suitable for the family audience on a friendly budget, VTC – one of Cebu’s newest musical theatre companies – also wants to provide enrichment to the Cebuano community through arts and education.

VTC also aims to highlight Cebuano artistry and keep that talent out of the shadows. The company paints a picture of Cebu as the country’s creative capital once its people come together and appreciate their artistic roots.

“Every day there are people all over Cebu and Visayas and Mindanao, wishing that they could watch a Broadway show in their locale or even be part of it. So fulfilling some of these wishes is the greatest contribution that VTC can make through our upcoming shows,” Ong said.

She believes there is no reason to doubt Cebuano talent because so many Filipinos get to perform in Broadway and West End shows, which is why Ong hopes that people at home would appreciate their own talent pool.

“I don’t think we’re inferior when it comes to talent. It’s just that we aren’t given the chance and even the avenue to use it. As soon as we have that opportunity, Filipinos , Cebuanos will shine,” Ong added.

Catch “The Addams Family Broadway Musical” on stage at Cinema 1 of SM City Cebu on Oct. 20 (matinee show is at 2 p.m., while gala is at 6:30 p.m.), and on Oct. 21 (matinee 1:30 p.m., gala 5:30 p.m.).

Tickets are available at the Vaudeville Theatre Company office in the Aikido Room of Tango Plaza Bldg. along Queens Road.