Go on, join the dark side. Treat yourself. Fans of the cult TV show and original comics will love this.Kooky , bizarre with dark humour this is enchanting and thrilling.This musical version of THE ADDAMS FAMILY has an original story , inspired by the creations of American cartoonist Charles Samuel Addams and it’s possibly every father’s nightmare. Wednesday Addams,a dangerous young girl with a crossbow, is now grown up and has fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family ,Lucas Beineke. If that doesn’t cause problems enough, she confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother.All Wednesday wants is ‘one normal night’ of a family dinner to impress Lucas’ parents.
Now, Gomez Addams is ‘trapped’ and must do something he’s never done before – keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a seemingly disastrous dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents.Can Gomez salvage his marriage ? . There is also a secondary plotline with Uncle Fester’s love for the moon.
We follow Uncle Fester as narrator as he plots to help Wednesday and with the participation of the ghostly ancestors – will love conquer all ? Wittily scripted with some great musical injokes and visual sightgags this show in fact emphasises family love, fidelity and devotion .
The splendid cast under the excellent direction of Jerry Zaks have a glorious time. There are lavish ,spectacular sets sets ranging from huge cemeteries to glorious city skylines as well as plush interiors and dark dungeonsThe costumes are fabulous as are the lighting and special effects . ( eg the giant chameleon , the live curtain tassel etc ) .
Gomez Addams , strange yet loving husband and father, is wittily played by John Waters who has a whale of a time.He steals the show with among other numbers ‘Trapped’ in Act1 , smouldering delightfully as the man caught between promises to his wife and his daughter, and is splendid in Act 2 with the ‘Tango de Amour ‘ in his desperate attempt to win back Morticia .
Chloe Dallimore as Morticia is superb. A pale, tall, thin elegant Beardsley brushtroke she is magnificent. And boy does she have LEGS . ‘Ay carumba !’ as Gomez might say. She is darkly strange , a caring mother and loving wife, with a glorious cascade of long , dark hair. And she is a terrific dancer. She has at least two huge show stopper numbers , especially in Act2 – ‘Just Around the Corner’ and ‘ Tango de Amour’ . The Tango in particular literally stops the show. ( If the Tango was any hotter it would have to be censored !.) Totally magnificent and enthralling . Young Wednesday is splendidly played by Teagan Wouters.She is caught between her unexpected love for Lucas and her love for her bizarre family .
Lucas her boyfriend was marvellously played by Tim Maddren . His parents , Mal and Alice Beinke are given great performances by Tony Harvey and Katrina Retallick. Their lives are all changed – as it turns out for the good – by Pugsley’s interference at the dinner party. Retallick in Act1 has a showstopper Sondheim like part in ‘Waiting’ that brings the house down.
Russell Dystra as Uncle Fester is fabulous. There is a show stopping number for him in Act 2 ( ‘The Moon and Me ‘ ) that has some joyous, childlike floating Phillipe Genty like effects – and some wonderful umbrella manipulation by the ladies chorus. (There are also charming references to the Georges Melies classic silent movie.)The chorus of ghostly ancestors Fester raises from their graves – ranging from Elizabethan , to dead WW1 soldiers and including Ballets Russes inspired outfits – was fabulous.They help Fester in his plot to aid Wednesday and Lucas.Sergio Trujillo’s choreography is sharp and snappy , excellent ‘Big Broadway Musical ‘ in style with some possible Murphy and Bourne influences.( Look out for the arrow scene ).The orchestra conducted by Luke Hunter sparkles.
Pugsley , who just wants things to remain as they are and is terrified of losing Wednesday’s affection, is terrifically played by Liam Faulkner – Dimond .Meredith O’Reilly as Grandma has great fun being delightfully bizarre and naughty. Ben Hudson as Lurch is towering and imposing and is very effective (and surprising ! ) in the finale.
Sinfully bizarre, wickedly delightful , this is darkly ultra cool and the audience absolutely loved it .
Running time 2 hrs 30 mins (approx) including one interval.
THE ADDAMS FAMILY opened at the Capitol Theatre on Saturday 24th March and a long season is anticipated.
© Lynne Lancaster
