The Addams Family

The Addams Family started out originally as a highly satirical cartoon comic strip initially intended to poke fun at the traditional ‘all-American’ nuclear family. It has been adapted into a 1964 TV series, various films and most recently a Netflix spin-off featuring Wednesday Addams. It is now also a highly successful musical having its debut on Broadway.

The musical, based on the book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice (with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa) tells the tale of Wednesday Adams (Gomez and Morticia’s oldest child and their very own ‘Princess of Darkness’) who is now all grown up and fallen in love with a normal all-American boy Lucas Beineke (played with enthusiasm by Kaius Calver-Hart.) Morticia believes it to be just ‘puppy love’ and Wednesday will grow out of it but following a confession from Wednesday, Gomez realises that it is more serious, and they are secretly engaged. This places  Gomez in a tricky situation as he has never kept a secret from Morticia. Further chaos ensues at a family dinner where both sets of parents meet for the very first time. Wednesday wants everyone to act normally so as not alert
her new in-laws-to- be of her family’s unusual lifestyle and even swaps her traditional black dress for a yellow one in a desperate attempt to appear normal.

ollowing a game of Full Disclosure, where everyone must reveal their deepest secrets, Lucas’ mother Alice Bieneke, (a woman obsessed with the colour yellow and talking in rhymes), accidently drinks a chalice containing a potion originally intended for Wednesday, which makes the person who drinks it bare their soul and confess their hidden, darkest secrets. Consequently, Alice loses her all her inhibitions and tells Mal Bieneke (Joel Bromley playing the straight role as the domineering husband) and everyone else listening, the truth that she is trapped within a loveless, boring marriage. Wednesday finally reveals her own secret and Morticia realises that Gomez has kept a secret from her and feels bitterly betrayed. Obviously, things do eventually get sorted out with the help of Uncle Fester and an ensemble of ghoulish ghostly ancestors, who help the young couple to realise that they are not that different from each other after all. Marriages are tested, secrets revealed, and truths acknowledged to create an ending where everyone finally accepts the darkness lurking within.

From the moment I entered the theatre, I was warmly greeted by the President of the society, Julie Leaning, who told me all about the production and the society. She is also the proud mum of Hannah Leaning who is not only the show’s choreographer (assisted by Devon Riley) but also performs as Wednesday Adams. Before the curtains opened, the audience was treated to a lively overture led with exuberance by Musical Director, Simon Percy, conducting a live band of talented musicians. The stage was initially set simply with a starlit backcloth, various gravestones and the ancient gates of the Addams’ Family Crypt. Dry ice swirled around the stage creating a spooky, gothic atmosphere and the lights were used to very good effect, sound effects were good and the scene changes swift and efficient.

The Addams family - Morticia, Gomez, Wednesday, Pugsley, Uncle Fester, Grandma (Leigh Troop in her first named character role playing a hilarious a 102 year old ancient cougar looking for love) and their towering manservant Lurch performed ‘When you’re an Addams’ a witty song detailing the macabre leanings of the family and their penchant for all things dark and ghoulish.
I was particularly impressed with Leanne Berry’s performance of Morticia (in her first role with the society) as she has created a unique version of a well-known character. She has an exceptional singing voice, a flawless American accent and a hilarious laugh! I loved the dark and witty ‘Just Around The Corner.’ During the Argentine Tango, performed with Gomez, she showed she has the dancing skills to rival any come dancing professional.

Dave Scotcher’s Gomez (in his debut role with the society) was a jovial, silver-tongued character who maintained hisHispanic accent throughout. His hilarious asides to the audience highlighting his distress at having to lie to Morticia during ‘Trapped’ and his obvious affection for his daughter was palpable and touchingly displayed in the song ‘Happy Sad.’ Hannah Leaning’s Wednesday Addams was an affectionate homage to the original 1964 series. Her petulant glances were spot on and her brilliant performance of ‘Pulled’ and ‘Crazier Than You’ showed she has an incredible voice and can belt out a lyric. Her own dancing was excellent, and she should be very proud of the choreography for the cast and ensemble.  Special shout out to Tansy Smithson as Pugsley, whose heart-breaking observation of a devoted brother facing a life without his sister was performed beautifully. I really felt sympathy for the character and her singing voice was exquisitely haunting. Tansy stayed in character throughout switching from obvious delight at being tortured by Wednesday to being menacing towards the Bieneke’s. Zack Ball’s Uncle Fester was played with mischievous humour providing the narration of the story often talking directly to the audience. His pure joy as he confesses that he is in love with the moon was both sweet and touching. I especially liked his routine performed with a bevy of beach babes and his relationship with the ancestors.

Another standout performance was Kimberley Kostryca ‘s Alice who transformed from a ‘trying to hard’ wife and mother desperately trying to keep the peace, to a devil may care woman who wasn’t afraid to speak her mind and ultimately gained the respect and love of her husband. Kimberley’s excellent performance of ‘Waiting’ was a dark, bitter observation of a woman finally realising that life had passed her by leaving her with nothing to show for it and eventually losing her own identity entirely. I also loved Peter Troop’s Lurch in his very first acting role. Already standing at 6 foot 5 by wearing stilts he appeared even taller on stage. Despite not having any lines he communicated with grunts, growls and the occasional lascivious leer. His deep singing voice in ‘Move Towards the Darkness’ was a delightful surprise.

The dinner scene ‘Full Disclosure’ was impressive using the whole set. I particularly loved the homage to the original Morticia and Gomez with portraits of Carolyn Jones and John Astin. The additional height featuring an arched staircase provided an opportunity for the whole cast and ensemble to be on stage without overcrowding and created a beautiful tableau. I noticed that each member of the ensemble was actively engaged with the story line staying in their own personal character providing powerful vocals and harmonies. Well done to the young lady playing the bride who, despite an
unfortunate costume mishap with her wig, continued valiantly with her dance routine. I especially liked the grey costumes of the ghosts as they were a perfect backdrop for the monochrome Addams Family. The costumes in general were well thought out creating each individual character especially the ancestors each with their own unique profession or historical period.

The entire show was an absolute delight and Gainsborough Musical Theatre Society should be very proud of this show. Director, Greg Snape has succeeded in teasing out all the subtle humour and has created a dark and witty production. Full disclosure? I loved it!

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