The Addams Family

The entrance foyer was atmospheric in keeping with the season of Halloween and complementary to the macabre musical we were about to view. Plenty of cobwebs, spiders etc and ghostly faces both hanging and decorating the tables – black and purple being the colour of the day and I forgot to put on my bony fluorescent gloves that I popped in my bag before leaving home! A large show photo display was set up around the area and there a ghostly character in charge of the raffle.

A quite bizarre storyline for a musical created from the book of Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa. A family is revealed preparing for the annual gathering of the Ancestors – living, dead and undecided! With synchronised click clicks we are introduced to an interesting array of characters with ’When You’re an Addams’ opening. Suited Gomez is head of the family, married to aloof Morticia, matriarch mother who lives for a tango. Only daughter is crossbow carrying Wednesday who tortures young brother Pugsley whose pets include a green iguana. Wednesday is growing up and has now fallen for a ‘normal’ Lucas. The Beinecke’s – Mal, Alice, and Lucas are now invited to the Central Park extraordinary Addams abode for dinner and to play the game – the game of ‘Full Disclosure’ which leads to chaotic results! The moral of course are secrets do not pay but with a little intervention in this case by dear Uncle Fester – brother of Gomez who confesses his love of the Moon, is also our delightful narrator proves love wins all especially with Morticia who gets her life love dream of visiting the Paris sewers to eventually come true, Mel a new lease of life with his wife Alice, Wednesday her Lucas and Fester the Moon!

The set did have a Tim Burton set influence of the macabre imagination that Annie and Kirstie designed together with the build assisted by stalwart members of the society and with the addition of the wonderful black and white frames and illuminated stars plus the interesting atmospheric effects, stage dressings and lighting using purples contrasting with the black and white an excellent result. The backstage support was led by SM Julie Hine with Chrissy her ASM.  With the addition of Penny’s wonderful imaginative costumes and individual ‘death’ makeup faces the stage looked perfect for this out of the ordinary musical. The music is fun – Ruth Roberts in charge of the nine-piece orchestra using the pit this time rehearsed the cast so very well which resulted in excellent articulation and harmony throughout. There was an element of fun came across with each and every character shining. The cast created some eccentric but lovable characters - Father Gomez – a huge strong role was commanded by Richard Gray who kept up his Latino accent, sang some great solos and danced a splendid tango with his upright, elegant Morticia performed admirably by Louise Franklin. Feisty daughter Wednesday was taken on by Freya Mardon – her first musical with CODS with much confidence particularly in her solos and was supported by young Imi Houssart as brother Pugsley, again a first appearance with CODS and hopefully many more. I’m sure that the shared part performed by Hannah Quill also did a fine job. Max Chesters plays Wednesday’s besotted suitor Lucas with a comedic approach with Gran growing elderly disgracefully I think a fun part for Sharon Pickles to create. Genial Uncle Fester loyal to the end was played by Steve Bowen-  I just loved - who spoke to us the audience, who secretly loved the Moon – rocketed off and Hayley Jones clad all in shimmering silver showed us what circus moves you can achieve hanging from a crescent Moon. Matt Sims as Lurch in his raised shoes was the stomping, grunting retainer who surprised us all at the end with a smile and singing. Great back up from all the long and recently dead  Addams Ancestors both in movement and vocals.

The tight, rhythmic and well executed choreography was devised once again by experienced and hard-working Chrissie Smith. Annie Hatcher was delighted to direct this exciting production and Kirstie Scarlett-Bruff created and manoeuvred the under the bed green monster with those shining red eyes and Pugsley’s dear little Iguana .To all the unseen society members thank you too for your contribution to a perfect Halloween choice of musical.

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