The Addams family

The Addams Family

The was written by Andre Lippa, with book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. The show is based on the classic ghoulish family cartoons created by Charles Addams. The lyrics and music create such a macabre sense of fear, yet tinged with graveyard humour, brought to life, or should that be afterlife by MTS.

From the show’s opening notes, Musical Director Laura Foxcroft’s cameo appearance as Cousin It, setting the tone for the madcap spooktacular extravaganza which was to follow. A very atmospheric opening, introducing us to our hosts, and their dead relatives naturally.

The Addams Family

Gomez - Will Wood; Morticia - Kellymarie Edwards; Wednesday - Lucy Travers; Pugsley - Sam Rodi/Alex Birch; Uncle Fester - Tim Cooper; Grandma - Laura Marsden; Lurch - Mat Giles.

Casting was spot on. Everyone excelling in the distinctive roles. The inter-family interactions were crafted to perfection, eking every poignant, nuance and devilishly delicious humorous moment for the audiences enjoyment.

Deathly appropriate, slick and seamless choreography, from the mind and bones of Director and Choreographer Hannah Pendleton, who has done a superlative job in crafting this show, aided, and abetted by Musical Director – Laura Foxcroft. The subtle light and very dark shade of the show, both in performance and musically was a veritable Treat and No Tricks.

Wednesday’s love interest, Lucas, is invited with his family to a meet the family meal under the plea to her family of One Normal Night.

The Beinekes

Mal Beineke - Dave Parton; Alice Beineke - Tracey Brough-Chesters; Lucas Beineke - Dave Elliott.

On the surface a seemingly normal all-American family, the Beineke’s, have quit a few issues of their own to deal with.

After the meal, the customary playing of the games, the games, the games. Pugsley, desperate to ensure future torture sessions, decides to intervene in his siblings romance, by adding little Bad Demeanour potion to the Full Disclosure drink, hoping to show Wednesday’s in her true colours to her beau and his family; Alice mistakenly imbibes the doctored brew, culminating in finale Act I. Aka Full Disclosure with Alice in hilariously full flight, this whole scene was simply stunning.

Uncle Fester, gave a beautifully subtle out-there performance, really coming into his own in Act II with The Moon And Me, gorgeous.

Effective sets. Costumes and make-up were superb. Sound and lighting really complimented the production throughout.

Musical Director – Laura Foxcroft, did a wonderful job, voices, particularly the leads, stayed in character, excellent nuanced performances from the band.

We went to the Saturday matinee performance, which included an audience fancy dress competition MCed mainly by Uncle Fester, held on stage during the interval, which was great fun.

The Addams Family was a wonderful inclusive advertisement for live theatre, MTS should be exceptionally proud.

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