The Addams Family

I was delighted to be invited to see High Greens production of The Addams family taken from the well known TV show with such an iconic character list. When performing a musical with well-known characters it is so important to attempt to recreate what we as the audience have in our memory . Your interpretation and chosen cast did just that and more. Truly believable throughout from the main principals to the ancestors. Your production team of Andrew Marshall, Laura Hall, Becki Gregory should be complemented for the clever way they moved this production along. They clearly gave the cast plenty to work with including throwing in a few additional topical, in the news, comments. The Choreography by Rachel Marshall worked well and whilst this production is not a full on dance musical, the ones included were thought out and performed. Between the whole production team I really appreciated the stage spacing, the way you used all corners, some standing some sitting and sections within the auditorium. The full ensemble numbers were great fun, the discipline from the whole cast in staying almost emotionless visually at times was excellently carried out. The set was well thought out providing stepped entrances upstage giving the cast room to create visual height differences along with the tomb entrances at auditorium level. The lighting by Andrew Beevers worked well providing light and dark to the scenes with a sprinkling of flashes in strategic places. The sound system was excellent utilising floor and drop down mics along with cast members having  excellent projection . The set whilst remaining the same throughout worked very well and along with the multi use torture chair, the dining table, chairs and props all seamlessly moved by cast members allowed the production to flow without hindrance. I liked the hanging bats upstage right, a clever addition. The orchestra under the direction of Christine Smith as Musical Director played beautifully throughout keeping the volumes at levels to hear the music and cast members consistently. The costumes were well thought out and with excellent make up made all the characters very believable.

Gomez Addams by Jonney Glaves, requiring a larger than life performance which you certainly did. The sword swishing master of the house, maintaining your accenting throughout and so many memorable scenes. Beautiful clarity and singing of the highest order. Many scenes with your wife Morticia,interactions with the Beinekes and the full disclosure scene to name but a few. The stand out duets with Wednesday in Happy Sad and with Morticia in Trapped and Live before we Die, a great all round performance. Morticia Addams played by Carpenter Lockwood, such an iconic role performed to the highest standard, maintaining such discipline and poise throughout. Again so many great scenes, Full Disclosure , fronting Just Around the Corner and excellently worked scenes with Gomez and the remaining family members . Uncle Fester by Sandra Graham-Levers, what a great character part played so well. Lovely interactions with cast and audience alike, your stand out song The Moon and Me sung beautifully with such a depth of meaning along with The Ancestors in But Love, Grandma by Lyndsey Lindley, well done with your lotions and potions, maintaining the stooping old lady, beautifully performed sections with Pugsley and your trolley and of course such fun in Full Disclosure well done. Wednesday by Libby Rawson, what a super actor you are,lovely singing, very clearly delivered lines and showing so many different sides to you character. The scenes with Gomez in Happy Sad, Pulled with Pugsley and with Lucas ,the boy of your dreams. A great performance along with memorable interactions with your mother Morticia. Pugsley by Drew Edwards, well done another excellent performance by such a young talented actor. Lovely scenes with Grandma and your sister Wednesday all delivered with confidence and clarity. Lurch by Alan Kay, such an individual character part requiring total emotionless discipline, really well done and when required such great visual reactions along with appropriate grunts and groans, finally shocking everyone when you burst into song near the end. The Ohio couple of supposably normal people the Beineke’s. Mal Beineke by David Barber and Alice Beineke by Rachel Marshall. You complemented each other really well as you entered into the madness of The Addams family, I really enjoyed your horrified reactions Mal to your wife in her full disclosure section, your time in the torture room with Gomez, and then your total character transformation when you returned to your youthful memories and early days with Alice. Alice lovely scenes with Morticia along with the stand out Full Disclosure number. Your facial reactions when a little too close to Lurch and his wandering hands and depicting the transformation with Mal as you remembered earlier times. Luca Beineke by Ben Shipman, great performance full of lovely visual reaction. I enjoyed your scenes whilst trying to convince your parents, and with Wednesday in Crazier than You, a powerful performance and singing with real depth and meaning. The ancestors young and old held their characters really well and whilst not mentioned by name all complemented the production.

A wonderful evening of entertainment that your sold out audience really enjoyed.

Thank you again for your invitation and hospitality

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