Bay Area Stage of Vallejo, forced out of its Vallejo home earlier this year when the Fetterly Playhouse closed its doors, is currently having a go at the historic Campbell Theatre in Martinez, and it’s looking like a good fit. “The Addams Family,” a musical by Andrew Lippa, Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, opened to a sellout crowd two weeks ago and continues at the Campbell through Sunday before moving on to the Empress in Vallejo for its final weekend.

The musical is based largely on the original “Addams Family” cartoon panels from the 1930s. Audiences will recognize some of the developed characters from the 1960s TV series, but their stage counterparts have a little more depth. House butler Lurch in particular, played here by Obdulio Butler Jr., is especially different, displaying a sort-of vaudevillian sense of humor compared to the more chilling, morose character from television.

Kyndall Sillanpaa does a fabulous job as Wednesday, the center of the stage play’s story. Much to her parents’ dismay, Wednesday is growing up, forming her own ideas about her identity and — horror of horrors — has fallen for a “normal” guy, Ian McDavid as Lucas. It’s hard enough for the two of them to navigate through their own cultural differences, but just wait till the parents find out about their plans to tie the knot. Sillanpaa is a fine actress and an exceptional vocalist, just the ticket for this most crucial role.

Benicia High School drama instructor Christine Mani takes the stage as Morticia, the Addams Family’s morbid, suave and sedate reigning matriarch. Mani appears in an ultra-deep v-neck gown, long and black, with jet-black tresses to match. (Costumes are all designed by co-producer Stacey Loew.) Opposite Mani is Jay Serpas as Gomez, the adoring husband trying desperately to appease both his demanding wife and their rebellious daughter. The two perform well together, most notably in a sexy dance number (“Live Before We Die”) in act two.

Susan George and Mark Hinds each do an excellent job as Lucas’s parents, Alice and Mal. The “normal” family is invited to dinner at the Addams family home, located near — what else? — the local cemetery, to meet Wednesday’s parents. Things go fairly smoothly until Alice accidentally drinks a potion Wednesday’s little brother Pugsley (Hunter Rose) intended for his sister. George steals the show at that point, as Alice emerges from her shell and sheds her inhibitions all over the dining room table. Hinds comes in a close second, though, reacting to his wife’s revelations with aplomb.

Other highlights include some entertaining antics by Uncle Fester (Scott Slagle) and Grandma (Stacey Loew), and the involvement of the Addams Family Ancestors, a group of beautifully costumed zombies compelled to stay out of their crypt for the night to help smooth things out for the two young lovers. Fester adds a healthy dose of silliness to every scene he graces, while the Ancestors, dead as they are, add richness and life to the stage.

One special challenge of staging a play at the Campbell is the height of the stage space, according to director Jeff Lowe, but light and graphics designer Randall Knott came up with a brilliant solution. Projected images, ranging from a cemetery to historic castle interiors, fill the upper half of the backdrop to match the action below. One projected scene in particular was Lowe’s own brainstorm: a beautiful, animated enhancement for Fester’s unique love scene, “The Moon and Me,” that I won’t spoil by describing any further here.

The BAS production would be suitable for children, with its Saturday morning cartoon-level references to violence, but for the profanity that occurs sporadically throughout the show. For that reason I would give it a PG rating.

“Addams Family” fans won’t be disappointed in this quality production, full of familiar, “creepy, kooky” characters and mildly morbid mischief. Get caught up in the fun, and have your snapping fingers ready. (“Da-da-da-dum!”)

If You Go
“The Addams Family” continues at the Campbell Theatre, 636 Ward St., Martinez, through Nov. 2, then moves to the Empress Theatre, 330 Virginia St., Vallejo, through Sunday, Nov. 9. Tickets are $18 to $22 for the Campbell, $25 at the Empress, and are available by calling 707-649-1053 or online at bayareastage.com.

Elizabeth Warnimont is a freelance writer specializing in the performing arts. She is also a substitute teacher for the Benicia Unified School District.