The Addams Family

The Addams Family musical with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Lee is based on the quirky and macabre Addams family created by Charles Addams. It centres aroundWednesday Addams, who has fallen in love with a;normal boy Lucas Beineke. The families come together for a dinner that reveals secrets and tests relationships.

On arrival the venue had been decorated in a suitably spooky way, yes, I noticed the spiders in the toilets!! There was an atmospheric static open set, depicting the gates of the Addams mansion, and setting the scene for what was to come. The jets of smoke fired downwards at various times, ensured the dramatic and spooky effects throughout. The scene changes depicted using minimal stage dressing, and completed by the cast ensured quick transitions throughout. The lighting design was used with great effect, and sound was well balanced and cued well throughout. The 12-piece band were excellent, bringing Andrew Lippa’s score to life. Costumes and make-up were appropriate and detailed.

The Addams Family are an iconic easily recognisable group of characters and with the Netflix series Wednesday, has increased in popularity recently. SVMCC and Director Ryan Sheppard-Hughes
interestingly didn’t stick with the traditional representations of all the characters in their version. It’s always great to see different approaches and ideas with casting, although I did wonder if the youngsters in the audience who cosplayed as Wednesday were disappointed they couldn’t see themselves up on stage.

In reviewing the Principal Characters:

Gomez Addams (Victor Minkov) a confident performance, you managed to bring out the comedy in the role very well.
Morticia Addams (Hannah Peacock) I feel this is such a difficult role, getting the right amount of dry and underplay that is required and you did a really good job. I particularly enjoyed your Tango.
Wednesday Addams (Alice Juggins) A different interpretation of the role which as I mentioned before is always interesting to see. You showed both the deadpan side, and the conflict in her feelings to her familyand to Lucas.
Uncle Fester (Laura Addams) you managed to get a strong rapport with the audience, not always easy todo. An energetic performance captivating Fester’s charm and eccentricity. “The Moon and Me” a highlight for me. A special mention to The Moon is warranted here!
Pugsley Addams (Gemma Davies) Playing a child as an adult actor is really challenging, and you did a great job in embodying Pugsley's playful and sinister character.

Grandma Addams (Georgia Neal) This is a great role which you did really well, perhaps you could have gone even bigger and really emphasize some of those lines to really bring out her eccentricities and the comedy.

Lurch (Scott Downie) Well done, you really managed to get across the meaning behind all those grunts.Not always easy to do.

Cousin Itt (Nicole Hughes) not usually in the musical version but you were used effectively throughout and developed a strong characterisation.
Lucas Beineke (Josh Tranter) A lovely sincere performance.
Mal Beineke (Christopher Haigh) You portrayed the uptight side of this character well, looking appropriately uncomfortable.
Alice Beineke (Kathryn Mills) I loved this portrayal, lovely strong vocals and a real character progression shown. Your part in “Full Disclosure” a highlight for me.
The Ancestor ensemble supported the principal cast fully, all fully committed with their individual characters. I really enjoyed your “tree” in “Crazier than You” Some tricky harmonies in there. The
choreography suited the style of the show and was executed well.
I had a great evening’s entertainment. The Creative Team, Cast and Crew should be very proud, congratulations everyone.

PLEASE NOTE:

Any observation made by the reviewer can only be based on what he sees at the performance in question. The reviewer may have
received information in advance of the performance, and it is inevitable that his assessment will be effected by that knowledge.
The N.O.D.A. Representative’s intention is to give an objective critique of the overall production and in particular the performance
viewed. It should be remembered that any review of this nature can only be objective as far as the techniques used during the
performance observed. Any criticisms expressed may not have been valid at other performances, and are only made to encourage
higher standards in Amateur Theatre.
It is hoped that the audience’s appreciation of your efforts will have given everyone a lift and encouraged you to greater
achievements in the future and that the observations made by the reviewer will prove helpful in improving future productions.

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