The Addams Family

Having visited QBMTS on several occasions over the past few years I was pleased to attend the ever-popular choice across the West Midlands -The Addams Family.  The expectation of witnessing a truly great show was not to be a disappointment to me.

Before the curtain went up, we were welcomed to the event by Neal Clarke in his role as President as well as meeting the director Zoe Russell who also provided the choreography. Post show it was great to be able to briefly meet the whole cast on stage.

The story centres around Wednesday Addams who has fallen in love with Lucas Beineke, a ‘normal’ boy by the Addams’ standards, and how they cope with announcing their engagement to their respective families. Wednesday asks her father to keep this a secret from her mother, Morticia but, of course, secrets have a way of coming out and the marital bliss Gomez and Morticia enjoy, is under threat! 

From the very beginning the cast transported you to the upside-down world of the Addams Family where to be sad is to be happy and where they dream of the day that Death is Just Around the Corner! The opening, ‘When You’re an Addams’, had the principal cast supported by an amazing ensemble portraying various dead Addams relatives and gave us an insight into what a particularly kooky evening we were in for!

The principal cast were all very well suited to their roles and gave us outstanding performances.

Tom Robinson as Gomez was slick and smooth in his portrayal with excellent comedic timing backed up with fantastic vocals. Gomez wouldn’t be where he is without his Morticia and Sarah Coussens was just how Morticia should be, seductive and sexy with beautifully controlled vocals. Both provided excellent stage presence and worked superbly together.

Then we come on to the Addams offspring! Isabella Cook shone as Wednesday Addams and commanded the stage during all her musical numbers which were delivered with powerful vocals especially ‘Crazier than You’. Sometimes Pugsley can get a bit overshadowed but not in this production! Robyn Georgina Harding had amazing stage presence which made the audience remember that there is more than one Addams! Another amazing team.

Carl Cook as Fester gave a cheeky performance and had the audience willing him to win the love of his life, The Moon, after giving a moving rendition of ‘The Moon and Me’. Jo tranter as Grandma, made the most of her role complete with a zany costume and delivered her lines with just the right amount of comedy.

However, my personal favorite member of the Addams Family in this production was James Merris as Lurch the old family retainer. This was one of the best performances I have seen of this character with his large imposing build and wonderfully rich vocals.

Let’s now turn to the Beinekes, the supposedly ‘normal’ family who have been invited to dinner but end up staying in the Addams’s family mansion after a storm means they can’t leave! Alice, played with comic genius by Hattie Rudge, has her own peculiarities and talks in rhyme until she mistakenly takes the acremonium meant for Wednesday! Mal Beineke, who has forgotten how to be a real husband and father was played by Jon Ranwell who put in strong performance as he battles his desire to go back to wearing Grateful Dead T-shirts! This just leaves Alex Brettell as Lucas Beineke who put in an outstanding performance and perfectly matched Wednesday in his vocals.

The band was smaller than some versions I have seen but nevertheless sounded good and never drowned out the cast during musical numbers and was well led by Chris Handley the musical director. The choreography by was good across both principals and the large ensemble. 

The set was different to previous versions seen of the musical. The grand staircase was a delight and having ancestors on this reminded me somewhat of Masquerade from The Phantom of the Opera. The staircase and balcony were well used by the cast throughout. I liked the lights set along the handrail as well as candles which were hanging. The fireplace under the staircase was, however, rather bazar.   Seeing the set from the wings demonstrated the small amount of space the cast had to enter the stage and bring on and off set and furniture. Well done for the effective use of the set and the stage.

The costumes were of a good quality for the whole family including the ancestors with more than suitable make-up.  

In conclusion this production was of high quality and enjoyable- well done to the production team, backstage, technical team and of course the cast.

I very much hope to see you all again at School of Rock.

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