Addams Family

 

The Show

TMMTC’s latest presentation was The Addams Family based on the American comic strip, film & TV series of the same name. This production at Melton Theatre was an excellent example of its power to entertain. The audience was surprisingly small, but this didn’t limit the energy of the performance.

The story depicts a macabre family and the problems when the daughter falls for a boy from a ‘normal’ household. If there’s a message, it’s that there’s no such thing as ‘normal’, life is full of opportunities to accommodate different lifestyles, and embrace the differences.

 

The Production

Primarily, this show is about fun, and TMMTC gave us plenty. It started with the familiar ‘fingerclick’ overture conducted by a ghostly hand through closed curtains. Gomez Addams and his family then set the scene and introduced the large cast of ghoulish ancestors. From this opening, action didn’t flag, and the individual characterisations, supported by a well-drilled and imaginatively costumed chorus, kept the story moving. A credit to Producer/Choreographer Bernice Rowan, returning to TMMTC after an eight-year break.

The music in The Addams Family enhances its pace. Led by Musical Director James Gutteridge, the individual and ensemble numbers were well-delivered and cleverly balanced with the pre-recorded ‘pit music’ clearly supporting and never overpowering the voices. All nicely sung and enjoyable, none more so than the well-coordinated ‘Full Disclosure’ ensemble in Act 1, Gomez’s moving ‘Happy Sad’ solo, and his passionate duet with Morticia (complete with Argentine Tango) ‘Live before we Die’, in Act 2.

 

The Cast

The story revolves around father-figure Gomez, played here with assurance by Jason Wrightam. Jason’s comedy timing, facial expressions, and exaggerated Spanish accent gave a sympathetic caricature of the well-meaning loving husband struggling to balance his loyalties to both wife and daughter.

Dawn Partridge, as Morticia, maintained the character of the long-suffering wife and mother with comic grandeur. Dawn’s sophisticated characterisation was entirely fitting to the role, and her singing was strong and assured.

An important comedy family member is Fester, the bizarre uncle who provides a memorable scene declaring his love affair with the moon. The part of Fester illustrates the importance of acting skills in a good comedy. No surprise, then, to read in the programme that the accomplished performer, Ross Woods, is experienced in Shakespearean drama.

The central theme is the determination of the daughter Wednesday, to escape her gruesome lifestyle for her boyfriend Lucas who with his parents is due to join the Addams at dinner. As Wednesday Jojo Helstrip gave a convincing combination of bloodthirsty family member and a determined fiancée anxious to introduce her family to a conventional lifestyle, and she sang well in her vocal numbers.

Further Addams are Pugsley, Wednesday’s annoying younger brother, and Grandma. In the latter, Jo Welch gave an entertaining version of the madcap family elder, never quite understanding what’s going on around her.

It’s always refreshing to see young performers entering the spotlight. As young brother Pugsley, Thomas Randle in his first main show acted and sang with confidence. He appeared at ease performing with experienced adult performers, and demonstrated a talent for musical theatre.

The final member of the Addams household is Lurch, the creepy and (mostly) silent butler. John Stewart maintained a haunting presence throughout the production, a sinister feature in the family scenes.

 

The boyfriend’s family are The Beinekes – Mal, Alice and son Lucas. As a group they blended well, convincingly portraying the visiting family outside its ‘comfort zone’, dealing with the personal revelations presented by the strange Addams world.

As Mal, experienced local actor Andy Longley-Brown looked and acted the protective, uptight parent with conviction and assurance, his middle-aged impatience with life is clearly portrayed in the evolving family dynamic.

Jak Beasley was convincing as Lucas, the boyfriend keen to develop his love but wary of the world he was entering. His ‘apple on the head’ scene, helped by some special effects, worked well, as did his sensitive partnership with Jojo Helstrip’s Wednesday.

Rachael Wilson, as Mum Alice, is the comedy character in this family. Seemingly quiet and anxious to please, her extrovert side surfaces having sampled one of Grandma’s potions at the dinner table, throwing off all inhibitions to the embarrassment of her family, the amazement of the Addams, and the delight of the audience. Rachael played the scene, and the part, with lively enthusiasm.

 

The ensemble of Ancestors provided enthusiastic support vocally and visibly throughout the production. Their individual characterisations added interest, and the imaginative and varied costumes in shades of white, managed by Charlotte Broomfield, provided a striking and well-choreographed spectacle. While not mentioned in the programme, credit is also due to whoever supervised the very effective make-up of many of the principals and ensemble members.

 

The technicals

Technically, supervised by Stage Manager Trevor Adams and ASM James Pritchard, things went smoothly, with several attractive sets making good use of the space available and the atmospheric lighting adding to the colourful production.

 

Thanks, TMMTC, for an enjoyable evening. I hope it continued as well as this for the rest of the run.

 

 

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