The Addams Family

The Addams Family... a musical performed by Orrell Musical and Dramatic Society at St John Rigby College, Gathurst Road, Orrell on Friday, 22nd March 2023

When you hear those ‘opening notes’ and that ‘double finger snap’ … you just know, why, because ‘They're creepy and they're kooky, mysterious and spooky, they're all together kooky its The Addams Family’!  The Addams Family became hugely popular in the early 1960 because of the TV Series of the same name. This musical interpretation … taken from a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice with music by Andrew Lippa tells the tale of the upside-down world of the Addams Family, where its ‘sad is to be happy, to feel pain is to feel joy, death and suffering are the stuff that dreams are made of’!  Having lived by their unique values for hundreds of years… Gomez and Morticia, the ‘patriarch and matriarch’ of the clan, would be only too happy and willing to continue living that way, that is, until their dark, macabre, beloved daughter ‘Wednesday’, now turning eighteen, falls in love with an ‘ordinary person’ … his name ‘Lucas Beineke’. To make matters worse, Wednesday has invited the entire ‘Beineke Family’ to their home for dinner! During that fateful night, secrets are disclosed, relationships tested, and the Addams’s must face up to what they’ve avoided for generations: CHANGE!

Production Team... Laura Priestley (Stage Director) and Andrew Southern (Assistant Director) were the ones chosen to guide us through this ‘spooky tale’ which has become a popular choice, over the past few years, with amateur groups across the country. Laura and Andrew made great use of all the stage space available and used some simple yet creative ideas to enhance the show... nothing major ... little things like ‘Things’ hand appearing above the door frame and ‘Fester Flying Across the Moon’ ... not everyone can afford or have the availability to use projection, so use your imagination... details, well done you two.... great job!  We had the very experienced Linda Scott (Musical Director) and her band that included Paul Wheatcroft on Keys, Nick Woods on Drums and Kevin Bates on Bass Guitar.  They provided us with great sound which was well balanced and which supported the singers ever so well whilst never overpowering them... be proud folks!  Natasha Ralston and Steph Shaw also did a great job with the choreography.... simple yet effective routines which played to the strengths of everyone involved, which isn’t always easy to achieve... be proud of everything you achieved.
 

The Cast... it was obvious from the start that Laura and Andy had pulled together an enthusiastic cast all of whom were only too ready and willing to give their all as soon as those lights came up!  Those who’ve read my reviews before, will know this is where I usually stick my neck out and start selecting MY ‘Showstopper’... but I’d like to break from tradition and highlight ‘THE ANCESTORS’, who not only did a great job in supporting the principles, but who looked absolutely stunning!  Their costumes were authentic and looked amazing… hired from Northern Costume Hire, with some provided by Elaine Eccles and the cast... wow!  On top of that, they had the most sublime make up, hair/wigs that I’ve seen in a long time... honestly, it really was as good as it gets!  Both these two features enhanced this production ever so much.... ‘The Ancestors’ included...  Hannah Wallwork (who, by-the-way, acted her heart out throughout this production, whilst Stage Managing as well), Steve Webster, John Kennedy, Pete Carletti, Emily Reeder, Elaine Eccles, Natahsa Ralston, Corrina Connor, Wendy Forshaw, Jean Budworth, Mildred Sims, Carol Clayton, Sarah Farley, Lily McGunigle, Cerys Dorrity and our Director Laura Priestley... loved the rendition of ‘When you’re an Addams’… what a way to open a show .... be very proud folks!   So, having said all that, lets now move onto MY ‘Showstealer’ and MY ‘Fab Four’.  As always, this is MY Showstealer, and MY ‘Fab Four’... ask anyone else present that evening and they may well come up with others, but MY ‘Showstealer’ is … Steven Ascoft who did a wonderful job portraying ‘Fester’, the very odd and extremely quirky brother of Gomez, who is in ‘Love with the Moon’. Steven created this totally believable character.  Loved the mannerisms and facial expressions... Steven brought humour aplenty to this role and his rendition of ‘The Moon and Me’ was heart felt and applauded by all... be proud Steven get job!  MY ‘fab four’ … let’s start with Katy Bradley, who, with only weeks to opening night, stood in for Victoria to take on the female lead role of ‘Morticia’ and what a great job she made of it!  This is a ‘big part’ to learn in just three weeks, but learn it she did!  Katy looked the part, had great stage presence and worked ever so well with Gomez and Wednesday... be very proud Katy... great job!  The central theme to this show revolves around ‘Wednesday’ played by Chloe Haley growing up and finding the ‘love of her life’ with a ‘normal boy’ who is ‘Lucas Beineke’ played by Alex King.  Wednesday invites Lucas and his family to The Addams Mansion for dinner… what could possibly go wrong!  Chloe did a great job producing another totally believable ‘crossbow carrying’ character … confident, assured, loved the interaction with ‘Pugsley’ and ‘sing’... wow… this girl can sing for sure… be proud Chloe.  Alex the somewhat ‘normal boyfriend’ started a little tentatively I felt, but grew into the role as the show progressed… would have liked a little more of a connection between Lucas and Wednesday, but that’s me being a bit picky… overall good job Alex… well done you two. Jude Asbridge took on the role of ‘Alice Beineke’, mother to Lucas, the boy who plans to marry ‘Wednesday’. I never think that this is an easy role to play, but Jude made a good job of it showing us Alice’s journey, which is essential if the character is to be believed!  Good job of the song ‘Waiting’ sung with the Ancestors... be proud!  Final one from my Fab Four was Ray Sims and his portrayal of ‘Lurch’.  If you’ve seen this musical before you’re always waiting for ‘Lurch’ to speak and sing toward the end of the show... we were not to be disappointed!  Ray put his own stamp on this character, loved the grunts and the groans which just added to the character... well done Ray, you had us all laughing for all the right reasons... be proud sir!   Andrew Southern not only helped direct this show but took on the lead male character role of ‘Gomez’ and did a good job with it!  Stephen Carletti created a good character in the form of ‘Mal Beineke’, father to Lucas and husband to Alice.  Rachel McGunigle provided us with an eccentric old ‘Grandma Addams’... is she really an Addams? Finally, Amber Lowe did a great job portraying Wednesdays lonely / mischievous brother.... ‘Pugsley’. 
 

Staging/Tech… SJR College hasn’t got the largest of stage areas… but the impressive set (hired from North West Theatre Arts Co. Ltd from North Manchester) filled every nook and cranny, providing us with a wonderful practical stage for the actors to perform on!  A large set of authentic looking gates where front and centre to open the show with the Addams Family members set behind, this created this beautiful montage and gave us a great feel for what was to come. The gates parted and the song ‘When You’re an Addams’ was sung with the impressive Ancestors making their initial appearance, what an opening… the scene was set … be proud!  Hannah Wallwork and Sarah Farley (Stage Managers) and the Scenery Crew (Andrew Clayton, Sean Gibson and Callum Deeming) did a wonderful job with the scenery and scene changes which were swift, with quiet changes and which helped enhanced the production. The stage furniture was perfect as was the very useable props… loved ‘The Rack’ used to perfection!  Technically, the show from a sound and lighting point of view was equally well done… Sound was in the capable and experienced hands of Joanna and Natalie Sweet with the Lighting under the watchful eye of David Wall, both elements were spot on and helped achieve the desired effects... be proud folks!

Wardrobe… as previously stated was impressive, hired from Northern Costume Hire with some additions provided by Elaine Eccles and the cast.  The Costumes along with the amazing make-up and stunning wigs enhanced this show ever some much!

Thank you so much for inviting Susan and I to your production and thanks to Liz Schofield (Society Chair) for looking after us throughout the evening…. We really did enjoy the show and look forward to seeing you all again soon!

‘Stay Safe, Keep well’
‘Stronger Together’

Jim Briscoe,
NODA NW
District 6 Rep

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