As soon as the familiar Addams Family music – together with that famous clicking of the fingers – sounds out in the theatre, there were laughs, smiles and hairs on backs of necks standing on end in delightful anticipation of what was to come.
This comedy musical is darkly funny, with shining stand-out performances from every member of the cast.
The central tension of the story is that Wednesday, now coming of age, has fallen in love with Lucas – on ordinary, respectable guy from Ohio. She doesn’t want her mother to know quite yet that she wants to get married to someone who’s definitely not weird or kooky, so asks her father – the sentimental Latin-lover Gomez with eyes only for his beautiful wife – to keep it a secret.
But, as secrets are something that Morticia says should never be kept in a marriage, Gomez (masterfully portrayed by the wonderfully expressive Cameron Blakely) is caught in a trap.
We loved the cool, sultry portrayal of Morticia by Joanne Clifton. Her excellent arm-fold, wiggle, drole delivery and of course her dancing (well, what else would you expect from a former Strictly Come Dancing champion?) were captivating.
There are powerful, punch-perfect vocal perfomances from Kingsley Morton (Wednesday – what a voice!) and great dance routines from the full cast of ghostly relatives banned from returning to their tombs unless the romance between Wednesday and Lucas succeeds.
Highlights included the ‘When You’re An Addams’ and ‘Let’s Not Talk About Anything Else but Love’ songs and there was plenty of humour – not least from the monosyllabic slow-moving butler Lurch (Dickon Gough) who surprised everyone with his amazing baritone at the end of the show. And of course everyone’s favourite Uncle Fester (Scott Paige) who raised a smile from the audience whenever he walked on stage – and especially when he sang to the moon.
We also loved the dining-room scene where mild-mannered and keen-to-please mother of Lucas Alice Beineke (Kara Lane) finds her voice and her old-self after accidentally taking a potion planted by Pugsley.
The Addams Family Musical Comedy makes a great family night out. It’s on at the New Theatre, Cardiff until 20 November – book here: newtheatrecardiff.co.uk
Then it tours the UK until June 2022: find out where it’s going here: www.theaddamsfamily.co.uk
Pics by Pamela Raith