The Addams Family

I have had the pleasure and privilege of reviewing the shows of Castle Newnham School since 2016 and have watched them grow and mature from their days in the school hall to their new ‘Studio One’ and their name change to 4SIXTEEN Theatre Company. And they certainly have raised the bar with each successive production under the guidance of Mr Luke Skeel. The Addams Family was no exception and a treat to watch.

The studio was laid out with seating on three sides of the performing space with a simple walkway at the rear leading off stage right. But the design of the studio walls by Louise Haddon, Tara Hutchings and Luke Skeel was something to behold, being covered in dozens of cobwebs of different shapes and sizes. These came splendidly to life when Ben Cronin’s ppl lighting plot was applied, turning green or gold and a host of other colours as the scenes demanded and creating just the right macabre atmosphere for this spooky tale.

The costumes, by Tara Hutchings, were fantastic and full of detail, all appropriate to the well-known characters. And where they managed to source so many wedding dresses from is a logistical triumph in its own right! Makeup and hair by Katie Mead, Neve Taylor, Molly Ephgrave and Jessica Marshall was also character perfect, where it was obvious great attention to detail had been applied from Gomez’s moustache to Morticia’s lip gloss to the hair on every head. Very well-done ladies.

The choreography by new addition to the staff Tara Hutchings brought a whole new dimension to this show and was extremely well drilled. The finger clicking opening number of ‘When You’re an Addams’ was particularly impressive and in perfect time.

Hunter Bath as Gomez Addams was the driving force of the show, with a fabulous mature and confident performance, especially in his exasperation with his wife Morticia’s attitude to Wednesday’s engagement, whilst he was well backed up by Catherine Patterson as Morticia. The sparring between them with looks and signs was particularly well done.

Lia Borromeo was an equally brilliant Wednesday and what a voice! Powerful beyond her years with superb interpretation. If she isn’t a future star in the making, I’d be amazed.

Uncle Fester broke the gender barrier and was played by last year’s NODA East District 2 best youth performer, Esme Hill showing her versatility and ability to the full. Loved the makeup as well. Definitely a talent with a great future.

Loved Raymond Meyer as Pugsley, always brought a smile to your face. As I hasten to add did Leon Pelagalli as Lurch, such a difficult part to get across well with just expressions to work with, but he certainly mastered it.

Alaistair Porteous as Wednesday’s boyfriend Lucas Beineke reminded me of Christopher Reeve as a young Clarke Kent and had the same sort of confident manner about him. Good interaction with Wednesday and a nice duo of ‘Crazier Than You.’ 

Erin Askew-Hunt and Ronaldas Maksimovas made splendidly bemused parents, Alice and Mal Beinke. Amazing and very clever how the makeup and costume department made the whole family look like a single genetic line and created an innocent contrast to the spooky Addams family both in looks and mannerisms.

Lucy Bichener, who played The Moon and was the Featured Dancer is an old hand at 4SIXTEEN. I have seen her in every age-related production since I have been visiting Castle Newnham School. She has certainly matured into a very confident dancer during that time and it is a delight to watch her perform.

Well done to all the thirty plus ancestors who were all spot on with their dancing and entrances They hit their allotted spots perfectly on what was sometimes a very crowded stage and glided on and off with confident ease giving us a smooth well-rehearsed show that flew by all too quickly. No easy feat.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable hour’s entertainment and 4Sixteen are the group to watch who are setting the standard for others to follow. Couldn’t really fault it, Well done indeed to Director Luke Skeel and all involved. We are looking forward to Aladdin in June and Sister Act in Spring 2021. Keep up the good work!

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