The Addams Family Musical

The Addams Family Musical was a great choice for Upstagers as it gave ample opportunity for a huge ensemble of young female actors to shine. And shine they did. In a fabulous range of cream and white costumes from all eras, they set the scene in the pre-show, moved the scenery with calm authenticity and added variety and charm to the well drilled musical numbers. They never lost character or came out of their zombie persona. Very well done to the Ancestors, who I am delighted to say were given full credits in the programme.

We were welcomed to the show by the most bizarre and brilliant announcement, made only with grunts and gestures. Tom Booth, as Lurch made his presence felt throughout without having to learn any lines. (My favourite kind of role!) Once inside the Addams family mansion, on a fantastic set, we were totally convinced by the beautifully costumed family members. Representing their original characters from the TV shows and movie, they also brought a personal energy and charisma. Emily Mitchell had a stunning voice and shone as Wednesday, the rebel who flirted with normality and the real world. A diminutive Pugsley (Ralph Smeaton) was totally focussed and produced a very mature performance. His number ‘What If’ was very well delivered.

Probably most strange and endearing was Uncle Fester (Landon Crowther), who is in love with the moon. ‘The Moon and Me’ was a beautiful number, with fabulous lighting and a small ensemble of bathing belles with parasols. Totally charming. Suddenly it seemed quite ordinary to be in love with a celestial body. Emma Victoria Smith played a totally crazy, elderly relative, who may or may not be someone’s Grandma and the matriarch of the family was Morticia Addams, played by Bethany Gregory. The comedic ‘Death is Just Around the Corner’ was a great number, but we also felt her true maternal feelings when she had to face losing her daughter to a new man and a new world.

Holding the whole show together was Mike Riley, as Gomez. Mike was totally believable as this unbelievable character. He had all the panache of a Don Juan but all the tenderness of a devoted husband and father, demonstrated in his heartfelt scenes with Wednesday. Mike really drew the audience into the story and made the crazy seem quite normal. His characterisation, singing and dancing were always on point. A really great performance.

Mike Smith, Sarah Huby and Alex Wright were left representing ‘normality’, a bit of a poisoned chalice in this show. But Sarah as Alice Beineke did get her own personal chance to go crazy under the influence of who knows what, and she certainly grabbed that chance. Mike and Alex showed us how love can transform us in marvellous ways.

You only have to look at the size of the font in this fabulous programme to realise the huge team behind an Upstagers’ production. On this occasion I would like to pay special tribute to the make up team: Amelia Bradley, Justine Bradley, Susan Kitching and Amy Whiteley. Make up all round was impressive, but because of the pre-show, we all got chance to see it in close up on the Ancestors and the detail was fantastic. Lighting was also good and some of the lighting effects really enhanced the scenes. Choreography by Lily Normington and Bea Whiteley was excellent. It was not over complicated and very well drilled and worked excellently for this production.

We can always rely on Upstagers for amazingly high production values and this takes talent, hard work, devotion and of course money. John Clark and Andrew Hewitt, co-directors and also the drivers behind Upstagers, are always very self-deprecating and quick to thank others, but perhaps this is the moment to thank them for their ongoing commitment to the company and the academy, which just seems to go from strength to strength.

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