The Addams Family

This was my second visit to Brantham Village Hall to see a show presented by BATS and to say it was very goodis an understatement… BATS production of The Addams Family was outstanding! Everything about this new musical was executed to a very high standard and the entire BATS community should feel rightly proud of what they have achieved with this show.

As we waited outside the village hall, there was a real air of excitement among the audience. BATS performed five performances of this show, and the Co-Directors told me that every night was a sell-out. The Addams Family featured a cast of over twenty-eight talented performers of all ages, which was wonderful to see. The audience were very engaged and clearly loved the show and everything was applauded and cheered enthusiastically!

The stage was used incredibly well, with characters entering via various doors and the set design was very good; the smoke effect was particularly effective and added to the mystery and spookiness of the production. Props were brought onto the stage as necessary by backstage crew and cast members and scene changes took place fluently and seamlessly. The sound effects and lighting were particularly good and workedextremely well. The music was provided by three very talented musicians: John Hoskyns, Felix Serrano and Guy Eade. The band played the music brilliantly with exactly the right volume needed – well done! The costumes and make up were spot on and looked fantastic; congratulations to everyone concerned with this aspect of the production.

The casting of all the characters was incredibly good and one of the many major strengths of this production was the fact that every member of the talented cast clearly enjoyed their roles and wanted to be on stage; they all had incredible stage presence, and they acted, sang, danced and reacted with a real love for this show. Producer Tina Burns and Co-Directors Mark Hinson and Josie Rudland deserve huge congratulations for the way they produced and directed this show; every aspect of The Addams Family was of an incredibly high quality.

Paul George and Pippa Revell played Gomez and Morticia superbly well. Their talent shone through throughout the entire show and their chemistry on stage was excellent. Katie Hinson and Alexia-Rose played the children, Wednesday and Pugsley very effectively and the scene where Pugsley was in the torture chamber was especially good. James Wetherall and David Chilton played Grandma and Fester really well and their comic timing and eccentric behaviour was terrific. Paul Morgan played the part of Lurch, and he played this part superbly well, adding to his role as the show went on, becoming more interactive and charismatic with female members of the cast – well done! Jessica Ford, Ryan Maslen and Jordan Peck played Alice, Mal and Lucas as the ‘normal family’ really well and their characters were believable and appropriate. As the show went on these three actors brought a real depth to these parts and they are to be commended.

BATS deserve exceedingly high praise for every aspect of this high-performance show. Another mention needs to go to the design of the programme which was excellent. Everyone who was involved with The Addams Family was 100% engaged, reacting and singing, acting and dancing to an extremely high standard.

This was a terrific show and once again a huge well done to everyone concerned!

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