The Addams Family

With live theatre performances becoming a luxury with the current climate, a lot of societies have noticed
a drop in audience numbers. Well if you want to know how to create a unique immersive experience to
draw the audience in, you need to speak to Alex Weatherhill. Every show that I have been to produced
by Alex is a breath of fresh air. He looks at a performance beyond what is put on the stage and looks to
make and entertaining evening all round where the audience feel like they’re within the story and a part
of the show itself.
When walking into the Spa theatre at Scarborough I felt like I had arrived at a steam punk party with the
members of cast playing ‘The ancestors’ providing a pre show cabaret performance with songs that had
links in some way to the story. Not only was this happening on the stage but also in the aisles and in front
of the stage. It built up a wonderful ambiance so the audience where ready to party with the ancestors
throughout the show. The ancestors then proceeded to make there way to the gallery where they carried
on their performance. This was such a clever element to the show as it gave you many dimensions to
look at.
The cast all around were fabulous as usual with Scarborough Theatre \company whether they were a
named character with lines or a member of the ‘Dancestors’ or ‘Ancestors’. I think, since this is a review
about The Addams Family, that talking about them is a good place to start. I think we should start with
the head of the family Gomez played by Martin Richardson, what a performance! I think Martin had to be
my favourite performance through the evening. He was funny, compelling and at times heart warming
especially when he sang happy sad at which point I don’t think I was the only one with a tear in my eyes.
Working seamlessly alongside Morticia was the vivacious and sensational Morticia played by Sarah Jane
Cox. A fabulous performance keeping to the delightfully strong persona of Morticia as the power behind
the family. With the rise in population of the new TV show, I think a lot of people have got to know the
louder than life character of Wednesday Addams which was only brought more to life by Tilly Jackson
who pushed Wednesdays character to a new level.
Dominic Hulme played the hilarious part of Uncle Fester, accompanied by ‘The Dancestors’ created true
hilarity at various points through the show. We can’t finish discussing the wonderful family without talking
about Pugsley and Grandma. These two had so much stage presence and were a delight on stage.
Moving away from the family but wanting to be part of the mad bunch was the shy and upright Lucas
Barneke, play by Connor Canvess, who wanted to marry Wednesday. Well. I think everyone saw a whole
new side of Connor when he started doing an amazing gymnastic routine through the song crazier than
you which was simply fabulous. The pairing of Connor and Tilly was wonderful, these two seemed made
to be on stage together and I hope they get the opportunity to in future.
What an all round triumph. The set, the costumes, the performances worked so well together it was
simply a delight to behold. I haven’t as of yet mentioned the singing which in a musical is obviously
important, and in this instance it was sublime. Majority of the songs were masterfully handled and
Andrew Davison, the musical director, must have worked tirelessly with the cast to create such
exceptional performances. I cannot wait to see what the next chapter of Scarborough Theatre Company
have in store, but I certainly am waiting with bated breath to see.

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