The Addams Family

Isn't it exciting to see a young team directing a major musical production for their society?  This was certainly the case for me with "The Addams Family", staged by Centre Stage, the performing arm of the Haverhill & District Operatic Society.  The talented team of Megan Brewster as Director, Lee Mayes as both Producer and Musical Director and Max Murphy as Choreographer, between them produced an extremely polished and upbeat show, borne out by the enthusiasm and obvious enjoyment of the whole cast.

The new musical comedy "The Addams Family", launched on Broadway in April 2010 and co-written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, is a very complex piece musically, with some extremely tricky harmonies and counter-harmonies in the musical numbers orchestrated by lyricist Andrew Lippa, which the cast accomplished well, considering their young voices.  Lee Mayes ensured that the orchestra underscored each number sympathetically, never overpowering the principals, and kept the timing just right throughout the performance.

Megan Brewster, as Director, had, with her talented young cast, authentically brought to life the iconic Addams family, originally created in 1938 by the American cartoonist Charles Addams, renowned for his dark humour and macabre characters.  Inspired costumes and make-up provided by Debbie Corsby and Jan Davidson, a suitably macabre set design created by Jim Morgan, embellished by the set decor team, an atmospheric lighting plot and some quite masochistic props provided by Dawn Gower, Kate Wall and Sue Webber, all added much to the overall visual effect and enjoyment of the show.  Topped by a fabulous selection of dance routines for the ghostly ancestors, created by Max Murphy and well-rehearsed under Dance Captain Charlotte Scammerton's  direction, this show couldn't fail to delight its audiences.

As loveable Uncle Fester, Tony Trott was mesmerising, keeping the audience well entertained, especially in his comical vaudeville serenade "The Moon and Me".  Baran Firat, with his dark countenance and good Spanish accent, was just right as Gomez, the head of the family, showing real concern for his daughter Wednesday's happiness in wishing to marry an "outsider", whilst trying to keep this secret from his beloved, but feisty, wife Mortica, very confidently portrayed here by Daisy Webb.  Their tango rivalled anything we've seen on Strictly!  Laura Dodd was self-assured and delightful as their spirited daughter Wednesday and accomplished some really tricky harmonies, which, just occasionally, were perhaps too demanding on her young voice.  Josh Woodgate was well-matched as her boyfriend Lucas, who showed real determination to win the families over against all odds.  Callum Friel, as Wednesday's younger brother Pugsley, obviously enjoyed the "torture" during his amusing scene with his sister in their duet "Pulled".  (He subsequently master-minds a plan to use one of Grandma's potions to bring out the dark side of Wednesday's nature during the family's dinner party with Lucas and his parents - with disastrous results).  As Lucas's rather mousey mother Alice, Billie Allen truly came into her own when revealing her dark side, after accidently drinking the potion meant for Wednesday - a really powerful performance!  Cian Harriss also put in a solid performance as the rather bemused and then humiliated Hal, Lucas's father, when he realises his own marriage is a sham.  Young Dara Bevan, as Grandma Addams, was warm and animated, amazing everyone with her back-flip at the ripe old age of 104!

Happily, the two families sorted out their differences and in the final scene, following Uncle Fester's rocket trip to the moon, the family's more dead than alive butler Lurch, well-acted by Alex Rodwell, who'd been lost for words throughout the show, shocked the audience when he sang out with gusto in the family's finale "Move Towards The Darkness", as the ancestors returned to the family vault!  Well done, everyone, on a truly amazing and enjoyable evening's entertainment.

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