Theatre Review: The Addams Family

(AD Event Invite*) Welcome to the wacky world of the Addams Family. Everyone’s favourite spooky and kooky family has moved into the neighbourhood. And the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham is their spooky lair.

With characters first created by Charles Addams in 1938, The Addams Family became a cult-classic TV Show and successful movie franchise. And in 2017, a stage production made its debut, adapted by Tony-nominated Andrew Lippa and directed by Matthew White. And it’s deliciously dark, with plenty to keep the whole family captivated.

For those unfamiliar with the Addams Family, this kooky clan is made up of devoted husband and father Gomez (Cameron Blakely), his chillingly calm wife Morticia (Joanne Clifton), their two children Pugsley (Grant McIntyre) and Wednesday (Kingsley Morton), the romantic Uncle Fester (Scott Paige) and spell-brewing Grandma (Valda Aviks). The family also have a towering but inarticulate butler, Lurch (Dickon Gough).

“I wanna treasure you in death as well as life”

The plot centres on changing family dynamics and teenage love as crossbow-wielding Wednesday Addams is betrothed. Her intended, Lucas Beineke (Ahmed Hamad) is not someone that her family would have picked for her. After all, Lucas is worryingly ordinary. And the Addams Family are anything but. After confiding in her father, Wednesday convinces her kooky clan to host the Beinekes (Kara Lane and Sean Kingsley) for a completely normal dinner party. Just “one normal night”. Naturally, the evening ends up being anything but normal. Especially as Morticia hasn’t been let in on the secret of her daughter’s engagement.

To top it all, Pugsley ends up accidentally enchanting Alice Beineke with one of Grandma’s potions. With hilarious consequences. After all, even the respectable Beineke’s must have a skeleton or two in their closet? The cast is completed by an ensemble of ancestral ghosts, who are unable to return to their graves until love prevails.

Diego Pitarch’s extravagant set design transports you into the ghoulish but luxurious Addams Family mansion. Its visually stunning, with meticulous attention to detail. Look out for the artwork on the walls in particular – they may not always be as they seem. Spooky lighting design by Ben Cracknell and sumptuous costumes complete the staging. Using the ghostly ancestors to fill the stage means that the scene transitions don’t impact the flow of the show one jot.

“I’m sad and happy, why should I choose?”

Cameron Blakely is reprising his role as Gomez, having originated the UK role in 2017, and he is clearly comfortable with his characterisation. Over the top and flamboyantly emotional, he balances being a devoted family man with a cruel streak and a penchant for tortur. Blakely’s eyebrowography deserves it’s own special mention. There’s a smouldering chemistry between Blakely and former Strictly Come Dancing champion Joanne Clifton as the charismatic and sultry Morticia. Naturally she shows breathtaking poise during the exquisite “Tango de Amor” routine, although Blakely definitely holds his own against the professional dancer.

“The people who run the [Alexandra} theatre are just the loveliest people. They treat me so well and I absolutely adore them. And Birmingham audiences are the best. They’re so lively”

Joanne Clifton, Morticia Addams

Kingsley Morton has a powerful voice and great energy portraying the lovestruck teen – something of a departure from the sullen and fragile Wednesday we all know and love from the tv and films. Morton demonstrates incredible control on “Pulled” as she sings about her inner conflict and desire to be part of a “normal world”. There’s also a beautiful moment with Blakely as he sings about his changing role as a father during the reflective ballad “Happy/Sad”.

“I would rather be, just the moon and me”

Scott Paige as loveable Uncle Fester is an undeniable highlight. It’s a joyful role and being the narrator of the story allows him to regularly break the fourth wall and engage with the audience. You can’t fail to be charmed by his love song to the moon. But the family’s creepy butler Lurch (Dickon Gough) is the (almost) silent star of the show, with painfully slow movement and his own language of deep grunts and moans. The ghostly ensemble constantly drift around the stage, an ethereal reminder that family lasts forever, even beyond the physical realm.

Alistair David’s slick choreography is performed with agility & precision, with beautiful balletic moments, Spanish & Latin dance and freeze-frame, slo-mo sequences. And the Tony Award nominated score shows that there is much more to The Addams Family than that instantly recognisable theme tune. Stand-out numbers include “Full Disclosure” as the two families convene post dinner for THE GAME (“Game, Game, Game…”); “Crazier Than You” as Morton and Hamad seal their relationship with a romantic crossbow moment, and Morticia’s big glitzy/macabre Broadway number about death, “Just Around the Corner”. Complete with obligatory kick line. Kara Lane also demonstrates flawless vocals on “Waiting” as Alice embarks on a journey of self-discovery thanks to Grandma’s potion.

(If you want to read more from Kara, check out this interview by fellow Birmingham blogger Suzie!)

“Move toward the darkness and smile”

It’s a story about family dynamics, about growing up – and growing old – and about embracing difference. All wrapped up in a black velvet, cobweb-strewn, deliciously dark package. The opening night audience were chilled, thrilled and charmed by this kooky and captivating spectacle, guaranteed to lift the spirits. It’s five stars from me.

The Addams Family plays at Birmingham’s Alexandra Theatre until Saturday 22nd January before it continues on its UK tour. For tour dates and tickets, click here.

All Production Photographs by Pamela Raith