The Addams Family (Queensbridge Musical Theatre Society)
Just when you think Central Park and the creepy abode of the Addams Family can't reappear anywhere else it pops up at the Core Theatre in Solihull with another super talented cast from Queensbridge Musical Theatre Society.
Genuinely think that despite being head of the family, Paul Stait as Gomez Addams is somewhat scared of both his wife and his daughter, the change in pitch of his entertaining Spanish accent is the give away but, he still delivers his own level of scary (especially when armed with a sword) and some engaging vocals.
I can fully understand anybody being frightened, possibly even petrified by Catherine Greenaway's imposing performance as Morticia Addams, there is a minor break in that steely gaze for a thoroughly audience pleasing performance of 'Death is Just Around the Corner' (definitely the sort of gig, I can really dig) but, don't cross her unless you want to see the inside of the crypt !
As far as daughter Wednesday Addams is concerned (bearing in mind we are talking a real-life father and daughter partnership here), Evangeline Stait grabs the part with both hands (and a crossbow), some blisteringly powerful vocals across multiple songs (particularly 'Pulled') and she has obviously learnt the scary look from her stage mother. One might therefore wonder what Lucas Beineke, a clean living young lad and played with great stage presence by Dan Hughes (not to mention doubling as Assistant Choreographer) might see in her, I guess it must just be fatal attraction, with the stress on the word 'fatal'.
When there is a complex story of love, you need an excellent storyteller to make sure the audience doesn't lose the thread and that comes in the form of Fester Addams, he of bald head, indeterminate sexuality and looking like he hasn't slept for a month, Ed Blann embraces this character from every perspective, some terrific characterisation and crystal clear vocal.
What of the other Addams Family members I hear you say, well this one has a 'tap dancing' Grandma Addams, a little too liberal with the acremonium perhaps but, a totally entertaining portrayal by Fran Foster and of course the younger offspring, Pugsley Addams played with conviction and some great one-line responses to the sister he thinks he is losing by Thomas Hughes.
Adding immensely to the entertainment value of this piece are the parents of Lucas, Gilly Harris as mother Alice Beineke traversing excellently from nervous, rhyming poem creator to forceful, dominant wife and Gareth Knipe as father Mal Beineke on his own journey as he suddenly realises that he now has a wife and a son that he needs to enjoy rather than see as a burden.
It's of course impossible to overlook (unless you are ten feet tall) Steve Harris as Lurch, a performance that manages to communicate with purely some grunts and moans, an acquired skill that belies an underlying amazing acting talent.
If you have somehow not managed to see this musical story, brought to the stage by the team of Sabrina Sacco (Director), Steve Greenway (Musical Director) and Michelle Hughes (Choreographer) then you must be crazier than I thought, book your ticket now before it all disappears for good and you are left with your own 'Full Disclosure' to own up to !
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