The Addams Family

Those of a certain age (including myself) can remember clicking their fingers during the theme song of the 1964 TV series. “They're creepy and they're kooky, Mysterious and spooky, They're all together ooky, The Addams family …”

It was therefore a pleasure to revisit my childhood with Gateshead’s rendition of The Addams Family. After a wait of three years, Gateshead adults’ society took to the stage again tonight with a bang or was that with a ‘click’ of fingers in their new home of Park View, Chester-le-street.

As the curtain opened the opening night audience were given a brief introduction into the lives and characters of the family members (living and dead) with the catchy opening number of ‘When you’re an Addams’. Fundamentally this is a love story; the love between Gomez and his wife Morticia; Wednesday and her boyfriend Lucas Beineke; Lucas’ parents Mal and Alice; and Uncle Fester and the …….…Moon….

The set by Dress Circle Entertainment of Birtley was fabulous as were the costumes by the same supplier; Sound and lighting were in the capable and safe hands of Martin Warden of Hi-Lights and music and choreography in the capable hands of Chris Watson and Lee Brannigan respectively. The ten-piece orchestra gave a fine rendition of the music. Whilst a little loud in the first act the balance was much better in the second act and enhanced the cast numbers without overpowering.

Without giving away too many plot spoilers the family’s dead ancestors are trapped in ‘living’ land until Wednesday and her problems of ‘first love’ are resolved. In the process this causes issues with the other couples and jealousies with Pugsley, Wednesday’s brother.

Grandma played by Carol Bannerman with her ‘no filter’ vocabulary was a real ‘hoot’. Lurch (Mick Stafford) the family butler had a vocabulary of mono-syllabic ‘grunting’ but his characterisation proved the real pull for his superb performance. Pugsley (Ted Gladstone) impressed not only with his acting but his fine vocals for a 12 year old in ‘What If’.

Uncle Fester (Scott Brannigan-Howes) with his eccentricities used every inch of the stage to fine effect as he surreptitiously guided Wednesday and Lucas together whilst forming a relationship himself with an unlikely suitor. This role suited Scott’s fine comedic talents

The Beineke’s Mal (Andy Key) and Alice (Julie Slater) had a fragile relationship until Alice’s chance drinking of one of Grandma’s potions laced with Acromonia caused her to reveal her true character and thus being the catalyst to allow Mal to rekindle their love together. Both characters had great chemistry together.

Gomez (Gary Nugent) whose difficulty to keep his daughter’s secret whilst being loyal to his promise to have ‘Full disclosure’ with his wife Morticia (Melanie King) causes a rift in their relationship which over the course of the production is healed as all the couples find love comes in all shapes and flavours. Gary and Melanie looked comfortable in each other’s presence and the audience was enamoured with their believable characters.

Wednesday (Darcy Ranasinghe) and Lucas (George Anglesea) after many issues proved their love for each other in the superbly staged ‘Crazier than you’ with fine vocals each. Wednesday never lost her dead pan, unsmiling exterior throughout and was a contrast to the effervescent Lucas. Very impressive acting when realising they were only 15 and 14 respectively!

The ancestors whilst not having too much to say, each had their own characters and it was easy to see that they had worked on them in rehearsal. Each one got a chance to play a cameo role in the background on the balcony during principal scenes
The stand out number for me was the finale of the first act – Full Disclosure which was full of energy, pace and passion.

This was a really enjoyable production of a good show - A great opening night – well done to Lee Brannigan and Chris Watson and all involved in this production.

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