The Addams Family

The show is based at the home of the ghoulish, gothic Addams family whose happy misery is challenged by daughter Wednesday when she falls in love with a sweet, young man from a ‘normal’ family. She confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. This presents a huge dilemma for him as he has never kept a secret from his beloved wife. On the evening of the day the show is set, Wednesday has invited the Beineke family to dinner resulting in hilarious and outrageous consequences. Richard Buxton was excellent as the suave and debonair Gomez Addams. He commanded the stage and managed to maintain his accent throughout in both his acting and singing which were impeccable. Nicola Smith was ideally suited to the role of the sinister, alluring Morticia Addams and her singing and acting were both terrific. Mattilde Stokes gave a powerful performance as Wednesday Addams and what a delightful singing voice she has. I absolutely loved Liam Jackson as Pugsley Addams. He oozed confidence, has such natural talent and his singing of ‘What if?’ gave me goosebumps. Grandma was wonderfully played by Lisa Bailey, her outfit and wig helped enormously and the whole would have been perfect but for the seemingly lack of ageing ‘make-up’. Completing the family was Uncle Fester suitably portrayed by Ray Hall and Aiden Strong gave a convincing deadpan performance as Lurch, the Butler. The ‘normal’ Beineke family with Lucas, the boyfriend of Wednesday, charmingly and effectively played by Evan Mason, his father Mal, splendidly played by Darren Kimberley and Chloe Worstenholme excelled as his mother Alice. The splendid array of weird and wonderful ancestors in their extravagant costumes gave terrific support to a first-rate principal line-up. The minimal set was enhanced by projected back images which included a severed hand moving about, a very large spider crawling around, the sound of water dripping and splashing down the cellar steps and Fester’s face in the moon. At the start of the performance there were some issues with the radio mikes, but this was soon sorted. Congratulations to everyone involved for another great show. I must take this opportunity to wish Dot Clarke a happy ‘retirement’ as this is her last show as Director of the company. Dot formed Young Inspirations Theatre Company in 1999 with the main objective of offering young people the chance to perform in professional theatres. This has certainly been achieved and she has given ‘inspiration’ to hundreds of youngsters who I’m sure are so thankful and grateful for all her efforts on their behalf. Dot, you will be sorely missed by so many people. Enjoy your well earned retirement.

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