2 minute read
Fryburg Academy Presents
from Fall 2019
FA ARTS
BY MIMI ROHLFING MUSIC DIRECTOR
The exuberant Gomez Addams, played by Seth Ferguson ’20 (far right), gets quite familiar when meeting Grayson Smith’s buttoned-up midwestern, Malcolm Beineke (2nd from left). Mal’s son, Lucas, played by Will Scheid ’22 (first from left), and his wife, Alice, played by Finn Brosnan ’23, look on in fear and confusion.
In addition to a great cast, talented pit orchestra, stunning costumes, rock-solid sets, and creative choreography, and a dedicated crew, this year’s all-school musical had the benefit of timing. Andrew Lippa’s The Addams Family opened November 1, 2019, a day after Halloween and the latest animated film opened October 11, keeping the title on everyone’s minds and adding to the anticipated excitement of gathering in a dark auditorium to wait for the lights to go down and the music and action to begin.
The performance was the last all-school musical for a few student actors who have graced the Leura Hill Eastman Performing Arts Center’s stage every single year during their Fryeburg Academy careers.
Senior Abbie Vaughan portrayed the perverse love-smitten, Wednesday Addams. In prominent roles in the past two years, Abbie has captivated audiences with her powerful voice, strong acting skills, and on-stage energy. “I enjoyed The Addams Family musical because it was so wacky and original in its own way,” says Abbie Vaughan. “With this year’s hardworking and talented cast and crew, it was easy for all of us to capture the spooky essence that the script called for quickly. I wouldn’t have traded this experience for the world.”
Opposite Abbie in last year’s production of Oklahoma, this year senior Ethan Reinbach played the jovial, Uncle Fester, who cajoles the Addams Family ancestors into helping the Beinekes and Addams through one night that is anything but ordinary.
A busy actor in community theater productions in the Mt. Washington Valley, this year, Grayson Smith played his most prominent role at FA to date. Performing as the more conservative of the two fathers in the show, Grayson’s Mal Beineke provided contrast for the goofy grandiosity of Gomez. “I enjoyed working with some people newer to the theater scene, gaining a new perspective on certain aspects that have become forgotten as a veteran actor,” adds Smith.
One such actor is Seth Ferguson, who made his FA debut as the debonair jokester, Gomez Addams. Seth shared his charm, melodious voice, and comic timing to the delight of family, friends, and faculty — most of whom had no idea such abilities were waiting to burst forth. With a deep, commanding voice and elegant strength, Annelise Bedan played Morticia, wife to Seth’s Gomez. We saw her dance last year as “Dream Laurie” in Oklahoma, and will be looking forward to more from this sophomore.
Another newcomer to the FA stage was freshman Finn Brosnan. Her dramatic portrayal of Alice Beineke with the cheerful rhyming facade that crumbled thanks to Pugsley’s potion, was a showstopper. Her son, Lucas, was played by Will Scheid, who made his FA debut as the macabre Wednesday Addams’ normal boyfriend. Speaking of Pugsley, you may not have noticed that was Rachel Frum, who disappeared into the part of the jealous little brother who loves being tortured by his sister. And sophomore Tyler Drew as Lurch provided the groaning and grunting.
