An ambitious and high energy production of the musical comedy, 'The Addams Family' is currently at Sale's Waterside theatre, performed by local amateur company, JS80.
The musical 'pulls in a new direction' with the stock characters (all present except Hand), and makes Wednesday a teenager in love. Pugsley therefore needs to be correspondingly older too, although the parents and grandma never seem to age...! The story for the musical takes us through the first meeting - and dinner - of the Addams's with Wednesday's fiance, Lucas and his conservative parents from Ohio. It's fast-paced, it's highly humorous, and yes, of course it is very kooky and spooky too!
The composite set of the interior of the Addams's Central Park home featured a staircase, balcony, main door and a large window, all suitably covered with cobwebs. Therefore some of the locations worked better in this space than others.
Debbie Hilton and Andrew Farley headed the Addams family as Morticia and Gomez respectively, bringing much to their roles, whilst Sascha Galkoff played the wheedling but strong-willed Wednesday determined to get what she wants with the air of a true teenager-in-love. A young girl called Mimi Fraser played with tomboyish ease the role of Wednesday's younger brother, Pugsley, whilst Ivor Farley's Uncle Fester chatted and joked with the audience in a very self-deprecating way before journeying to meet the love of his life, the Moon. Grandma was played with oodles of vim and vigour by Jude Moryoussef, and the slow-moving, grunting Lurch, a larger-than-life looking presence due to his high platform shoes [a great idea], made an impression with his facial expressions which were always a delight, and a lovely deep bass voice at the end when he finally did sing.
Lucas was played with typical teenage angst and love by Solly Temkin, whilst his parents Mal (Matthew Cahill) and Alice (Nadine Khanzadeh) proved they were equally at home with the introspective pruderies of middle-age comforts and the thrills and excitiments of letting your hair down and giving in to your urges.
Paul Downham's direction was secure and he had added a couple of nice comedic touches to the show too, although the entire cast would have benefitted from a little more rehearsal time, especially using the set and the correct stage space. The entrances and exits took too long [it was a longer walk than expected!], and first night nerves were evidenced. Although hopefully these minor problems will be ironed out for future performances. The chorus of ancestors sang and danced their way through their ordeal of helping Fester bring the two 'love-birds' together, before they were allowed back into their 'forever homes'. The Musical Direction was by Marilyn Blank (on the keyboards this evening with a 5-piece band), and the choreography was by Vanessa Cockburn, assisted by Katie Perkins.
The show was well received by this evening's audience of family and friends, cheering and standing for the finale song.
The show was well received by this evening's audience of family and friends, cheering and standing for the finale song.
Reviewer - Chris Benchley
on - 8.11.22
on - 8.11.22
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