The Addams Family

The Addams Family is a relatively new musical comedy based upon a TV show of the same name. It depicts a ghoulish American family with an affinity for all things macabre. It was never produced in London’s West End and had poor audience appeal around the world although it ran for a year on Broadway. With its recent release to amateur companies The Addams Family seems to be achieving a cult following.

CLOC Juniors decision to present this ‘newly released for amateur production’ show after the magnificent success of Les Miserable last year, was a brave one. Untried and untested, with no DVD’s and little help from the script, it required a vision from the production team and a very talented cast. Did CLOC Juniors achieve the result they hoped for? Yes and yes again.

On the night I attended there was a nearly full, very enthusiastic audience and although I suspect many of them had friends or relatives among the cast, they all had good cause to be proud and appreciative of the performances. Rarely have I seen (even from adult productions) such a well drilled, slick company. The show moved at a wonderful pace never allowing the audience attention to flag even for a moment. From the moment I heard the familiar sound of what I  would describe as ‘The musical logo’ of the Addams family...as used in the TV series, I knew that the sound coming from the band was going to ensure an excellent musical evening.

The opening introduced us to the family standing in a familiar and challenging, confrontational pose with the many ancestors. From the excellent make up and costumes we could immediately identify each principal character and the personalities of the ensemble. I am certain many hours of instruction from the production team combined with intuition and talent from the cast, left no room for doubt that they inhabited each character they were portraying in age and demeanour. The fact that I don’t recall too much about the lighting is a complement. Too often one remembers things for the wrong reasons... mistakes or glaring errors in lighting judgment, but there were none. The blackouts were slick, the special effect flashes were spot on, lovely blue eerie light for the graves, good lighting plot...well presented.

The sound reproduction was first rate, I could hear every word, but I will add this was also because of good diction from the cast and an orchestra which never competed with performers. Plenty of special effects...monumental thunderclaps all spot on. The principal costumes are well defined from TV memory and must be as expected, they were easily recognisable. The ancestors must have been difficult to costume as there were many of them and they all needed to be and were different.

With make-up, the principal characters are well defined and you followed what we all recall quite expertly and all the ancestors looked suitably different from one another. The Music was in the capable hands of experienced MD Carol Kenway.  I enjoyed the orchestra as much as I enjoyed the show, it was a joy. The pace of the songs was very good and enabled the pace of the show throughout. The principals and ensemble were all very well rehearsed, comfortable and confident in entrances and exits to songs with good harmony coming through.

The club is fortunate to have Jules Ashton as choreographer, she understands ability limitations, but encourages the young people to stretch themselves thus making dance routines look effortless. She managed to work with a very large company, spacing into groups so the stage never looked over crowded.

Lynda Prescott the director has a fine eye for detail and characterisation. The principal performers were outstandingly good and very well rehearsed. The pace of the show was electric with one big moment following another leaving the audience almost breathless. Groupings on stage were excellent with the stage never looking overcrowded. The Ensemble worked very hard, stayed in their characters throughout and added a great deal of enjoyment to this production with talent and enthusiasm. I have seldom seen slicker entrances and exits from such a youthful cast, very well done to you all.

Principal Performers... well my word what a bevy of talent! With no weak links, and without going into detail, it is difficult to describe the impact that the principal performers made. There were surprises in every scene from every performer and I can honestly say I was bowled over by them all. Carrying the weight of the whole show is Gomez Addams the father and playing this role was a 16 year old called Ricky Enoch... watch out for him in the future. His portrayal of a mature father left me quite astounded, his interpretation, emotion and understanding was so good. He was funny (with Morticia) sad, and thoughtful and the portrayal of love for his daughter left me speechless. His timing was immaculate...and he can sing and he can dance!!!

Everyone connected to the CLOC Juniors production of the Addams Family is to be congratulated for bringing an evening of pure theatre to the Princes Hall. I cannot imagine that there was anyone in the audience who wouldn’t agree with me.  It was a memorable and most successful production.

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