'Addams Family' brings crowds to SHS

The Shafter High Drama Department brought its production of the Broadway smash, "The Addams Family," to life at the Fred Starrh Performing Arts Center on the campus of Shafter High School last week with great crowds and first-rate acting, dancing and singing.

Under the direction of Advisor Hal Friedman, the cast was at once hilarious, chilling and touching, bringing the audiences to their feet.

Heading up the veteran cast was Emily McGuire as the matriarch of the family, the sultry Morticia Addams. Her beloved husband and "slave" Gomez was played by Andrew Magana. Magana had the perfect mix of a suaveness, and a clumsy puppy dog quality, making Gomez the perfect leading man of the show.

McGuire was an enchantress with her dry wit, fire and drollness that gives Morticia the perfect amount of everything. McGuire wowed audiences earlier in her SHS career with a tour-de-force performance in the Drowsy Chaperone, as leading lady Janet Vandegraff.

Playing the lovestruck Wednesday Addams was Aurelia Scialabba. Scialabba was enchanting as the daughter with the wry sense of humor and a perfect deadpan look that masks a girl with more emotions than she likes to admit.

Rounding out the family was Hayden Martinez as Pugsley Addams, Guastavo Pardo as Uncle Fester and Desiree Arreola as Grandma Addams. This family has more heart than any of them care to admit, but end the end, they are almost as "normal" as the families that they profess they are not.

Joselyn Pierucci and Josue Villalobos play Wednesday's betrothed parents, with Luke Kratt playing the brave young man Lucas Beineke. As the families meet, they also are treated to a visit from the Addams Ancestors, who are very entertaining and give the show some great music and choreography.

All of the cast showed a great range as they sang, danced, and acted their way into the audience's hearts.