Presented by Matt Byrne Media
Reviewed 4 July 2014
They’re creepy, kooky and, for die-hard fans, they are most definitely one of the funniest TV families around.
Beginning life as a series of cartoons by animator Charles Addams, The Addams Family gained infamy via its much loved TV series. Running for 2 seasons between 1964 and 1966, it soon became a friendly rival to similarly spooky comedy show The Munsters.
Whilst the latter has its own legion of loyal fans, The Addams Family has had more success in branching away from its initial confines. From hit movies, a plethora of merchandise, and now a theatrical musical, it has carved its own niche in the halls of pop culture. Matt Byrne Media has brought the musical to colourful life for its Adelaide season with the Arts Theatre a fine venue for its auspicious local debut.
Based on a script by composer Andrew Lippa and writers Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice – who wrote the Broadway smash Jersey Boys, The Addams Family Musical is a fun ride. Its plot is simple – nightmarish daughter Wednesday (Sophie Lee Hamilton) has grown up and fallen in love. Unfortunately for her peculiar father Gomez (Michael Coumi), her boyfriend Lucas (Jonathon Shilling) is as normal as they come.
Wanting to marry him and worried at what her mother Morticia (Emma Bargery) may think, Wednesday asks her father not to tell her of her plans. When invited to the Addams house for dinner, the boy and his parents meet the rest of her family including Uncle Fester (Jamie Hornsby), brother Pugsley (Dylan Richardson), Grandma (Chris Bussey) and strange butler Lurch (Frank Cwiertniak). Becoming entangled in a dark comedy of errors with Wednesday’s ghoulish family they wonder what they have let themselves in for as the strange family deal with their dramas as only they can.
From its opening moments The Addams Family Musical presents a wondrous visual feast. Thanks to Anthony Dal Santo’s excellent set design, the show perfectly captures the look and feel of its origins. This adds another layer of enjoyment to a generally fun show, never taking itself too seriously.
Whilst the sight of familiar characters dancing and bursting into song is unusual, it befits the weird vibe the characters express. Sue Pole’s choreography and Gordon Combes musical direction complement each other as they also craft a quirky mood. Unlike some other musicals, the songs move the plot forward and become an integral part in establishing the character’s feelings and skewed viewpoint.
Matt Byrne directs with a much-needed light touch even if the show’s length occasionally drags proceedings down. At over two and a half hours – excluding interval – it’s bit too long for such a production. A tighter structure would have worked wonders with certain scenes prone to narrative repetition.
The cast generally fit their characters very well. Emma Bargery’s Morticia exudes a sultry sexiness while Horsnby’s Uncle Fester makes his role a beguiling mischief-maker of the highest order. Only Coumi seems somewhat miscast as Gomez. Whilst actors are more than free to re-interpret characters, his role is less John Astin’s suave manic smoothie of the TV version and more Marlon Brando as Don Corleone from The Godfather. Just because Gomez appears in a retro-gangster outfit doesn’t mean he has to behave like one. It seemed a bit out of place.
In fairness, Coumi expresses the commanding presence the role requires and has a strong singing voice. The chemistry he has with the rest of the cast is excellent and everyone appears to enjoy themselves immensely. The energy they display during the many song and dance numbers is amazing and they perform them with much relish. Bussey, Richardson and Cwiertniak also equip themselves well as they play their roles just as you imagined. The staging and lighting helps immeasurably during the whole show – upping the excitement level to the max.
A measure of any successful theatrical event is whether you feel you have received your money’s worth. The Addams Family Musical answers the question with a resounding ‘yes’. Whilst certain issues creep in to lessen its overall impact, it sets out to be a good evening’s entertainment and succeeds. Worth checking out for any Addams Family fans and casual theatre-goers looking to view a spectacle of scarily awesome proportions.
Reviewed by: Patrick Moore
Twitter: @PatrickMoore14
Venue 1: Arts Theatre, 53 Angas Street Adelaide
Season: 2 – 12 July 2014
Venue 2: Shedley Theatre, Elizabeth
Season: 17 – 26 July 2014
Duration: 3 hours (including interval)
Tickets: $30 – $40.85
Bookings: Book through BASS online or phone 131 246; DramaTix online; VenueTix on 8225 8888; or through Matt Byrne Media on 8262 4906
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