Page 24 - Irish Examiner USA

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24

2019 Celebrating Legendary

28th,

August Cartoonist Charles Addams

| And His Addams Family
EXAMINER By Brad Balfour Moretz, Finn Wolfhard, Nick York Times feature titled detail, spiral staircases, fire- from Gomez and Morticia’s

In a September 2016 New
abode. We also passed a well-
day spent in Westfield, New Kroll, Bette Midler and Allison
places, and French stylizations
IRISH Ainto Charles Addams — this version, directed by Conrad “Westfield, N.J., Where Small established atmosphere of as maintained cemetery with fas-
Jerseyprovidedauniquelook Janney — one almost wishes
was noted in the promo litera-
Town Meets Urban,” its appeal
tidiously-preserved hundred-
thecreatoroftheAddamsFamily— Vernon and Greg Tiernan, was described as ture, “unsurpassed elegance and year old headstones — which,
a pop culture phenomenon which would be a live-action one. Just “offer[ing]characteristics typi- charm.” no doubt, served as more visual
thankfully didn’t slip away from the imagine Isaac as Gomez and cally associated with urban liv- Addams Expert Ron stimulation for his Black and
public consciousness. Long before Theron as Morticia; but given ing — a bustling downtown, a MacCloskey joined the gather- White Gothic stylizations.
TheAddamsFamilybecameamedia the few clips that were pre- vibrant cultural scene and good ing there providing commen- Then we made the trek to
legend, through years of seemingly viewed, this animated incarna- transportation options — along tary and a display of his exten- 35-year-old artist Ricardo Roig’s
modest New Yorker Magazine car- tion looks pretty slick and funny with many benefits of suburban sive Addams collection. Also a gallery near Main Street. This
toonsthatAddamsdrewandwrote. — plus there’s some deliciously living, like attractive homes, Westfield native, he’s always fine artist from Hoboken, NJ
With a droll sense of humor and macabre New Jersey jabs. That well-regarded schools and a had a love for art and monsters. and his wife (and baby) main-
ironic look at the fairy tale vision of provided insight into how this sense of community.” As his bio detailed, he started in tain a studio where he creates;
the American family, Addams film will introduce an unstop- With approximately 30,000 show business by joining the cir- they also have a separate gallery
applied a harsh but humorous pable franchise to a new genera- denizens, the town is a quaint cus, went on to perform stand- in the W Hotel Hoboken to
deconstruction of ordinary life tion with a Grand Guignol mix of modernity and antiquity. up, did a one-man show, and exhibit his work. Roig opened
though pen and ink — humor long associated with Within its 6.72 miles, 227 acres host regional radio and TV this second location in
and in doing so, captured a twisted The Addams Family. are devoted to parks, conve- shows. With his deep admira- Westfield to showcase limited
portion of the public throughout Now, Addams might have niently accessible to New York tion for Addams, MacCloskey edition hand-cut prints, made
thoseyears. had a peculiar world view City and has a Great American founded the Charles Addams from his particular printmaking
That vision eventually expressed through his proto- Main Street 18-block down- Art Scholarship in ’91 and also process — including unique
became applied to the mass Goth lens, but he happily situat- town. Sprawling Victorian and petitioned to have Addams pieces made to illustrate
media of time — television — ed himself in his Westfield, New Colonial-style homes reflect its childhood home declared a his- Addams’ connection to the
and his characters cohered into Jersey — a sweet expression of rich historical character and torical landmark. locality.
a classic 1960s small-screen Main Street America. This clas- complement the broad, tree- He also was instrumental in When we finally ended up at
series, then a set of live action sic town for modern families, it lined streets of this picturesque organizing the first Addamsfest. Addams Tavern, located in
films in the ‘90s, a glorious served as Addam’s inspiration community. Created last year to celebrate downtown Westfield, we got to
Broadway musical (I saw the sparking visual ideas drawn As Mayor Shelley Brindle Westfield NJ’s illustrious native witness and pose before a huge
closing night show with Brooke from the local graveyard, a explained when she came to son, the successful event — portrait of the legendary creator
Shields) and now an upcoming Victorian-designed home greet, “We not only have with over 12,000 attendees from along the stairs between the
high-tech digitally animated around the corner from where Charles Addams to fete but also 85 towns at nearly 20 events — main dining area and the private
comedy due out this October he grew up and other touch- our 300th anniversary is coming has prompted AddamsFest 2. room where we were served
11th, 2019. With a fabulous points in the landscape which up next year.” Elected in Once again celebrating this pro- lunch — includes haunting
voice cast — Oscar Isaac, often found a place in his grow- November 2017, as the first lific talent and the place which cocktails made for an afternoon
Charlize Theron, Chloe Grace ing catalog of cartoons. female Mayor in the town histo- spurred his “all together ooky” of imbibing. Its renovated interi-
ry, she had also served as HBO’s creations, it returns this or has a beautiful turn-of-the-
Executive Vice President, October. The town will be century feel including high-
Domestic Network transformed into all things vaulted ceilings and wrap-
Distribution and Marketing for Addams with family-friendly around murals. The Tavern
over 20 years. Having success- events, movie screenings, art showcases what it describes as,
fully led HBO’s digital transfor- exhibits and more. “New American-inspired cook-
mation, she retired in 2016 to As part of our experience, we ing infused with subtle smoke
pursue public service as a local also got to view Dudley. Last from the restaurant’s wood-
democrat/progressive. As is year’s AddamsFest unveiled this burning grills and mesquite
noted in her text backgrounder, recently freed Charles Addams charcoal ovens. The menu is
“She is using her experience as drawing of a skeleton. complemented with fresh fish,
the first woman in HBO’s C- Affectionately tagged as grass-fed meat, and local season-
suite to apply her leadership and “Dudley,” this life-sized Addams al produce.”
operating skills to serve as original, drawn during his Though pleasantly exhaust-
Mayor of her hometown.” Westfield childhood, lurked on ed by it all, I had a revived admi-
In order to get a taste of a wall on the second floor of a ration for one of the most
Westfield’s special sites, we first barn on East Dudley Avenue for important pop culture figures
visited The James Ward about a hundred years. Current from the pre-digital world. The
Mansion — a beautifully homeowners Jennifer and trip aroused anticipation for the
appointed, restored home Samuel Khichi lent it on a long- latest iteration of the Addams
which can be rented through term basis to the town, sharing Family. Much appreciation is
AirBNB. Or, as in our case, pro- this valuable piece of history. due to a savvy set of townsfolk
vided through local executives. Then our procession made and the people behind United
Dubbed “The Best Kept Secret its way along Westfield’s shaded Artists for furthering this pop
in Union County,” the sheer streets to see what is believed to culture franchise. Maybe, he’s
magnificence of its 24 foot ceil- be the imposing, gabled-home watching all this with a deadpan
ings, gold gilded architectural which served as the inspiration grin from the grave. C