The Addams Family

The Addams Family A New Musical was written by Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice, with music & Lyrics by Andrew Lippa. It is based on the characters created by Charles Addams. Having been a tv series, film and now on Netflix as "Wednesday", there had to be a musical and this first opened on Broadway in 2010.

Andrew Hodgson has a great cast for this production. Everyone gives it their all. Lots of attention to detail, great comic timing and good pace. The set is very good, sound and lighting are just right. The costumes are also good. The main characters are just right as you have to make them 'look' like what everyone has come to expect. The ancestors costumes are a bit freeer, being like ghosts of past family members they are very detailed and thought has been put into their making. Charlotte Da Silva has a good sound with the band, and the singing comes over very well. The minute they start 'When you're an Addams' everybody around me (& myself) started clicking our fingers along to the tune. Jess Herrity’s choreography is also good and suits the whole ensemble. There is some nice movement and dancing.

The story is based around Wednesday, who wants to bring her boyfriend and his parents home to meet her family. She begs for 'One Normal Night'. They want to get married, She tells her father this news and asks him not to say anything, but this puts him in a difficult situation as he has never lied to Morticia. What follows is a great story about love, friendship, family values & truth. Gomez is played by Connor Handstock, he has a good voice and very good comic timing. I liked his touching 'Happy/Sad"' number, he and Morticia played by Jade Nicholas work very well together. She is just right in the part. I especially liked her ‘Death Is Just Around The Corner’ number. Max Bullough plays Mel Beineke along with Fiona Willshire as Alice Beineke. They too work well together. The 'Full Disclosure' number is very good. They have fullen into a bit of a rut but by the end of the show but they seem happier than ever.

Wednesday is played by Tahlia Horwood, she is just right for the part along with Lucas played by Angus Cockburn they are well matched. They want to be together, but have a bit of a wobbly, but this gets solved with the song ' I'm Crazier Than You'. Jess Herrity plays Pugsley, she is good in the part there are several times Pugsley has fun, he's upset his sister won't be around to torture him so mixes the drink around in the last song. Georgia Pidgley plays Fester, he's there to help keep the audience up with the story, and is such a lovely character. I really liked his song 'The Moon & Me'. Carolina Scott plays Grandma, she has some great lines to say and is an all-round good character. David Viira takes on Lurch, the Butler, he doesn't have much to say its just a grunt or a groan but all of a sudden bursts into song towards the end in 'Move Towards the Darkness' The ensemble all play their parts well, with the singing and dancing. They also help with moving some of the set. You could tell everyone on stage was enjoying every moment. This really came across. Well done. 

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