They’re creepy and they’re kooky

PALMER — This is the last weekend to see Colony Middle School’s performance of the musical comedy “The Addams Family.” Students will perform within Colony Middle School, down in the cafeteria. This rendition of the musical, based on the movie, based on the TV show, uses a curriculum from the licensor, The Theatrical Rights Worldwide called, “The Addams Family Young@Part®” This musical number uses the popular characters created in the 1960 television show and puts them a story about the Addams household’s ghoulish yet undisturbed way of life getting turned upside down when Gomez and Morticia’s eldest child, Wednesday falls in love with a boy from Ohio. Uncle Fester narrates the tale of two worlds colliding.

Colony Middle School’s music instructor, Tobias Lambert normally directs the plays, but this year Ben Wargo is running the show. Wargo has been a social studies teacher for Colony Middle School for nine years. He said that he’s always loved theater and drama and Lambert knew that. Wargo has four kids and said that he’s only been able to do a couple plays at the school because his first priority is family. Being involved with theater consumes a lot of time and he couldn’t justify the time required until the fateful day his son, Adam joined theater and was casted on the Addams Family musical. Adam plays an ancestor, which is part of the chorus.

Although Lambert is not the acting director, he is still very much involved with the production. During the rehearsals, he quickly moved from one thing to the other, setting up the equipment, instructing the students, keeping them on track, and conscientously attending to every little detail in between. Wargo said this collaboration that he is listed as the director but he’s got to “give props to Lambert.”

“Mr. Lambert is great. He literally gives everything he has into this school and this program,” Wargo said.

Wargo also gave kudos to Clair German, who does all the costumes for Colony’s productions. He said that she’s put in a lot of time and effort into the costumes. He said that this collaborative effort with Lambert allowed him more time to work with the students to refine their acting skills, helping them with their timing, projection, and so on. He said that he has no formal training in theater but he was heavily involved with theater when he was in high school. He joked, “maybe you’ll see that when the kids get on stage.” He noted that he does study the craft and surrounds himself with a lot of knowledgeable people in the drama community who share his passion for theater.

“That’s all it takes is wanting to do it,” Wargo said.

Behind the scenes is Maddie Jones, an eighth grader who recently moved to the Valley. Jones has been involved with drama for two years. This is her first Colony production. She manages the light and sound for the musical. She changes the musical tracks, having to adapt to the timing of the actors and she switches the colorful lights for different scenes.

“Everything centers on her. Every aspect of this play traces back to her in one way or another,” Lambert said.

Jones said that she’s always been “that dramatic kid,” emphasizing emotions and actions frequently. Her mom even told her she would make a great “drama kid.” So joining theater seemed to be a natural choice for her. She said that she auditioned for ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ in Anchorage but it didn’t work out. Still, she wasn’t deterred.

“At least I tried,” Jones said.

Jones said that she really likes to be behind the scenes and will try to act more when she is in high school. She’s smitten with the art of theater and wants to keep experimenting with it. She said that she it’s going to be sad to leave everyone after the show is over. She came in not knowing anyone and now she knows everybody, all the middle school “drama kids.”

“My mother tells me I’m an expressive introvert,” Jones said.

Expression, development and connection are common themes the drama students walk away with. According to several lead actors for this play, the process of becoming another character is liberating, and working with others in theater helps form friendships and even allows networking for future roles and projects in the greater theater community. Some even said performing gave them an adrenaline rush.

“Each new role is a new experience. Theater helps you see other people’s emotions,” Aydian Pavia-Jones, a seventh-grader who plays Lurch.

The Colony Middle School drama students have clocked in a lot of time and effort into this play, learning about the craft, themselves, and the supporting characters on and off the stage along the way.

“I’m so proud of these kids,” Wargo said.

Showtimes are tonight at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m and 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 and can be preordered or purchased at the door. Contact Mr. Lambert to purchase tickets or for general info: 907-761-1517 / tobias.lambert@matsuk12.us