The Addams Family

This was a spooky, well rounded production, full of fun and so appropriate for October. Characterisation was strong with a lovely blend of young and older members. Gomez and Morticia were well matched. Ray O’Sullivan made a splendid job of Gomez the father of the weird Addams family, demonstrating his torn loyalties and promises to wife and daughter and conveying his understanding of both in Two Things and Growing Up. With him, every word was telling and every note beautifully expressed. Charmain Leitch interpreted a powerful wife and mother Morticia, demanding and commanding from her entrance. Her discovery of her husband keeping a secret from her roused her frightening ire. Their duets Live Before We Die and Tango de Amor were well sung and executed. In her first major role, Rebecca Miller as their daughter Wednesday was confident and assured in her singing and delivery with a heartfelt Growing Up. She brought out all the angst and defiance of a teenager when introducing her intended to her unusual family, while showing her spooky side subjecting her brother Pugsley to the wonderful rack. In this role Jack Wallace seemed to love the torture of the rack and sensing he would lose this aspect of his life, thought to thwart it by stealing one of his grandmother’s potions. This led to the memorable scene between him and Grandma singing What If. Carol Fraser successfully portrayed a knowing and tricky customer. Completing this strange family was Fester, played joyfully by Gregor Preston, giving this comic role its touch of pathos as he took off to find his true love, The Moon. His very voice was deep and husky, and delivered But Love and especially The Moon and Me with confident panache. In contrast the Beineke family of the boyfriend Lucas was - normal. Euan Campbell gave us a well intentioned boyfriend anxious about his parents’ meeting with Wednesday’s parents. Rebecca Holmes entered the whole process as the common sense wife and mother Alice but ended by embracing her new liberated self while Craig W Lowe gave her husband Mal the irritability and stubbornness the situation demanded. To finish Eric Brown made a wonderful Lurch negotiating the stage ponderously in high shoes and getting his moment singing in the end. Technically the video wall worked effectively as did the set of the graveyard gates and scene changing all went smoothly. Routines were well performed throughout and in such, the chorus as Ancestors from the graveyard played their part in spookiness with wonderful make up and eerie grey costumes. Along with the dancers, some on ballet points, they maintained the society’s standards. Congratulations to all for a well performed and enjoyable evening’s entertainment.

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