Southern Miss Theatre held the opening night of its latest production, “The Addams Family,” on Oct. 28. The play follows the story of the titular eccentric family as they face new challenges when Wednesday Addams brings home her first love. Dramaturge Sarah Guidroz gave a few words on the story’s larger message. 

“The Addams Family” franchise began with comic strips created by Charles Addams in the 1930s. It was adapted into a television show in 1964. The adaptation most people are familiar with are the live-action films from the 1990s.  

This production is based on the musical written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice with music by Andrew Lippa. The plot centers on an older Wednesday Addams bringing home her first love and fiancé, Lucas, who comes from a “normal” family. The young couple decide to introduce their families at a dinner party and wait to reveal their engagement. Secrets, laughter and culture clashes ensue as they struggle to bring their worlds together. Both families are forced to reckon with pleasure, pain and what it means to be a family.  

Guidroz, who did the cultural research for the play, discussed the story in more depth.  

“For me, the Addams Family is really a celebration of the odd and the eccentric,” she said. “I think the Addams Family, from their cult classic status with the original comics, to all the tv shows and the movies, really proves this point of how wonderful oddness and eccentrics are.” 

She hopes audiences can “pull a sense of joy” from the play. “The Addams Family at its core is a celebration of love, love of life, love of person…,” she said. Audiences were certainly receptive on opening night. Tickets were sold out, and the show ended in a standing ovation. 

Southern Miss’s show is directed by Associate Professor of Theatre Caitlyn Herzlinger. Its next showings will be Nov. 3, 4 and 6 at the Tatum Theatre.