The Addams Family

 How fortunate you are to have Samantha Ashby as M.D. in King’s Lynn: her chosen orchestra in the pit is always excellent and not too overpowering, the on stage harmonies always a credit to all her hard work (and that of the cast), the sound is very good.

On stage the settings for this show were ideal for the piece, the designs creative and appropriate for the mood, clever for the swift changes, must congratulate those black-clothed and white-gloved figures who manipulated the inside-outside walls. Must also applaud the make-up artists who entered the spirit of the piece along with the multi-costume choice, this Addams Family created and maintained the atmosphere throughout.

Director Sara-Jane Brennock was very clever and fortunate in this excellent casting of these zany and way-out characters, certainly the show attracted the ideal cast from the area who inter-acted well and created the team for the family from hell. Not only the leading characters but the use of the Ancestors’ chorus gave great body and balance to the show with the use of chorus and dance and energy through many of the scenes with imaginative insertion and groupings and therefore made this more of a happy and fun ‘company’ show.

Dominating the stage from the opening moment with personality plus, strong vocals and character, Tom Clarke as Gomez gave an amazing performance as the father of the family, what a joy to watch and listen to him, a master-class in intrigue and diplomacy. Opposite him as Morticia, his wife, Bryony Ding showed the results of training at Italia Conti with a burnished polish in performance: the voice and acting, the looks and character, the style plus the dancing in that amazing tango, a star on the Arts Centre stage, a very well-matched couple. The genes strike true as Ian Ding as Fester in a well-studied eccentricity and extrovert characterisation almost stole the show with the voice and the timing and comedy, the egging on and inspiration to chorus, and general interaction to all throughout.

The younger element of the family held their own in the action: Lauren Ashby as stroppy teenager Wednesday had the voice to hold all those notes, the personality to win with father and boyfriend, and enough arguments to mix with the family plus hope for more in the future. Greg Aviss (10 years) as Pugsley showed so much talent and potential for the future as well as in performance now, his comedy timing and interactions good with grandmother and sister, and his devilish bending of the rules certainly created havoc.

On the comedy side of the family, what a great portrayal of Grandma from Jo Sherry, really she did not miss a trick in action or timing or in upstaging anyone else unfortunate enough to be trying for centre stage whilst she was there. As Lurch, Matt Dack managed the infuriating slow-speed progression and dead-pan expression required and which led to the surprise of his final breaking into song.

The ‘normal’ Beineke family really do not stand much chance in contrast against the darkness of the Addams except for the fact of loving Lucas and Wednesday: looking good, Ross Woodhouse was the ideal college student bewildered by what he had got into, worked very well with Wednesday, good vocals and highly credible. The parents Mal (Tim Ingall) and Alice (Alex Rasberry) bickered and made up in good relationship and were suitably confused by situations. But what an amazing transformation by Alice on drinking the ‘potion’, that ‘Waiting into Full Disclosure’ certainly stops the show as finale of first act, rivetting.

A black comedy, fast and zany and very ‘cult’, this show was great fun for all in cast and audience, excellent way to celebrate Hallowe’en, well done to all.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.