The Addams Family

Spooky from the start with a display of eerily costumed ancestors at the gates of the cemetery, the story of the daughter of the Addams family unfolded just as eerily, turning norms of behaviour upside down. The quality and delivery of musical items by principals and chorus were never in doubt: harmonies, notes and diction were clear throughout. Wednesday Addams started off by engaging her father to keep secret that she intended marrying Lucas, an ‘outsider.’ Bobbi McIntyre presented Wednesday as a determined young lady trying to outwit her mother. Her strong voice resonated with angst in Pulled symbolically torn as she literally pulled and tortured her little brother Pugsley who so didn’t want to lose his sister. Sophie Banks (Lexie Hannan on alternate nights) was a confident and believable Pugsley equally torn with guilt at his part in events. Gomez, her father, had real stage presence from the first and then impressed with his Spanish passion. In this role, Ross Martin was dynamic, forceful and confident, twirling the sword with menace and fun, then engaging sympathy in the well sung Trapped, between daughter and wife, and in What If where his panic and discomfort at his position were palpable. And similarly so in Happy Sad and Not Today later. He was well matched with Rhona Simpson as his wife Morticia. She was funereal and stately in black, passionate in her trust and forceful in instigating The Disclosure Game that was to end with undermining her faith in her own marriage. She sang Secrets with confidence in her husband’s trust but became disillusioned and hurt after The Game. Their rapprochement in Tango de Amor was very well executed. As Lucas, Wednesday’s intended, Lily Diamond developed from an anxious young man into a steadfast and determined personality whose example inspired his own father to try again. So secure in his love was Lucas that he allowed Wednesday to test his love William Tell style. That moment of the arrow winging its way via the ancestors was a great piece of theatre. His parents, the seemingly ordinary couple Alice and Mel, were turned upside down with the revelations of the Disclosure Game. Lindsay Williamson portrayed Alice as loving mother whose married life had become unsatisfactory and delivered a poignant Waiting. Mel played by David Swan as the dominant career minded father was forced through truth telling to re assess what he had become. Crazier Than You showed some fine and emotional singing from all four. Lacing the narrative all way through, and trying to help, was the very strange Uncle Fester, entertainingly performed and sung by Stewart Mckerchar, a character who fell in love with the moon and made us believe him. The character of Grandma Addams whose role was pivotal in introducing Pugsley to the potion which Alice drank was shared between two, Jane Kerr, and Shirley McNulty who on the night I was there adopted the movements and mannerisms of a lively nonagenarian with well timed comedic lines. The cast put full force and energy into the Ancestor songs especially Full Disclosure. This was a well produced and successful show, musically sound throughout, deserving full attention and giving everyone a thoroughly enjoyable evening’s entertainment.

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