The Addams Family (Sutton Coldfield Musical Theatre Company)

Found myself at The Garrick Theatre in Lichfield for my latest review as I'd been invited to the Final Dress Rehearsal before the run of The Addams Family by Sutton Coldfield Musical Theatre Company, obviously this was a rehearsal so I would ask readers to bear that in mind, although it ran with very few delays (and most of those were last minute tech adjustments).

If you were ever to find yourself in Central Park, New York, I wouldn't go looking for the residence of The Addams Family, for starters it's a work of fiction but, equally it's a pretty scary place inhabited by a family that can only be described as misfits who have a distinct liking for the darker side of life or to quote from the dialogue, 'the intoxicating smell of the graveyard'.

At the helm we have husband and wife, Gomez and Morticia (played respectively by Mark Skett and Kate Pilling) both creating a confident and melodious portrayal of their characters, one caught in that eternal paradox of trying to please his daughter and his wife and the other feeling betrayed by both due to a very small but, constantly festering secret and I don't mean Uncle Fester (more of him later).

I should say at this point that what we have here is a Morticia to die for (something she would probably quite like) a fine piece of acting and a sultry, tuneful voice to match.

It appears that there is something in heredity as well, as Charlotte Jervis as daughter Wednesday Addams has an equally harmonious (if not even more powerful) voice, somewhat unnerved by her sudden love (not a word welcomed in the Addams household) for a rather normal outsider and strange unnatural attraction to puppy dogs and unicorns. Who is the guy causing such changes to the usually demonic Wednesday, well in his own words Lucas Beineke can be impulsive, he just has to think about it first and it's quite obvious that Louis Patterson has thought very much about the character and again I have to compliment the vocals, clear and mellow, working really well in conjunction with his co-star.

What of the other members of The Addams Family then, well James Fisher is a suitably manic Uncle Fester yet able to morph to the balladeer when required for a song like 'The Moon and Me'. Something of the cackling witch about Paula Lumsden as Grandma which is exactly as it should be adding increased comedy value with some witty one-liners. The part of younger son Pugsley Addams is shared between Alfie Stevens and Jack Smith, depending on which performance you see you might experience either one and I feel that no matter which portrayal the audience will not be left disappointed by two energetic and creative young actors. Finally but, certainly not unsubstantially there is family butler Lurch, played on platform soles bigger than any used by 70s Glam Rock Bands by Tony Orbell, difficult to make a mark with only grunting rather than any true lines but, very much achieved and reaching a climax when surprising everybody by singing the song 'Move Towards the Darkness'.

When there is a family like Addams and they are entertaining the Beineke's, not only Lucas but, rather old-fashioned father Mal, played intelligently with equal doses of scepticism and surprise by Simon Smith alongside repressed and ready to explode mother Alice a perfect piece of characterisation from Sarah Corden, who knows what will happen and it can only lead to some 'full disclosure' from everybody.

Supported by an extensive ensemble cast portraying Addams Ancestors (everything from a caveman to a ballerina via a gladiator) I can only believe this one will hit the stage like an arrow from Wednesday's crossbow and much to the delight I imagine of Chris Stanley (Director), Sheila Pearson (Musical Director), Maggie Jackson (Choreographer) and she who must be obeyed now this is at performance stage, Hellie England (Stage Manager).

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