The Addams Family

This made a wonderful evening of escapism.  The bizarre members of this family preparing to greet Wednesday's boyfriend and his "normal" parents, who actually turn out to be not so normal after all. 

This show presents some wonderful opportunities for larger than life characters and a talented cast of various ages had been attracted to this production.   It is when we see the actors photos in the programme that the skill of the make up artists and the costume department is really highlighted.  Who would have thought, for instance,  that Grandma was played by an attractive young lady or Lurch was a very normal chap?  It also clearly shows the skill of the actor who is able to take on a character so different from themselves and make it their own.  What fun the rehearsals must have been.  The two youngest in the cast playing Wednesday and Pugsley already have a wealth of experience behind them and were most impressive.  They were totally committed to the performance.  Two talented young people who we will see much more of in the future.  On the face of it, the Addams Family is a fun wacky show but the human element of changing relationships, teenage rebellion and on occasion marital disharmony was played with real understanding and in this odd setting seemed very truthful.  There was the feeling that underneath it all the Addamshad similar problems to everyone else.  The Benekes initially seemed to be a normal ordinary family but as time went on a different side of them emerged.   A good script has depths that once explored enrich the whole performance, as this was so enriched.

The Ancestors are an important part of the story and it would have been good to see more of them, perhaps on occasion to dress the stage.    There may have been a number in the audience who were new to The Addams Familyand if they had been more of a presence it might have helped them to understand who the ancestors were and how the family fits together.

The choreographed movement and dancing was suitably bizarre and fitted the show ideally.  Using the stage to advantage and well performed.

The Princess Theatre is an ideal setting for this show as even though it has, for the West Country, quite a large capacity with almost 1500 seats it feels almost cosy!  The set was most imposing and lent an eerie feel to the proceedings.   The dungeons and torture chambers could easily be imagined.  The playroom scene was fun with the rack on which Pugsley is tortured by Wednesday being on stage rather than attached to a wall.  It worked well and we were able to enjoy the expressions on Pugsly's face. The Princess Theatre stage is large but the wings are not.   Moving the enormous gates of the property on and off stage must have been a tricky undertaking but it was smartly done so the audience would have been unaware.   All of the many scene changes were accomplished smoothly allowing the story to flow.

The band played the stylised and catchy music brilliantly and the balance between voices and the band was good.   We were able to hear and enjoy the funny lyrics and also the spoken dialogue was clearly heard. The singing of all the numbers was so good, some lovely voices to enjoy.  The overture is fairly long and the music is wonderful to listen to but might it have increased the buzz of anticipation to have some activity, for instance from the ancestors, setting the scene?

The lighting was good but for such a surreal show it might have been fun to have explored something a little more adventurous. 

It is regrettable the Addams Family doesn't often attract the size of audience it deserves, presumably because it isn't as familiar with the general public as some.  If only the general public could be encouraged to venture into less well-known territory what a fabulous evening's entertainment they would have had.  Congratulations TOADS on a most successful and hugely enjoyable show. 

Joyce Pomeroy for Iain Douglas, District 4

 

 

 

 

 

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