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Pictures: Pamela Raith The Addams Family The Musical Comedy Birmingham Hippodrome ***** Most people will be familiar with the 1960s TV series about the weird family who delight in the macabre and the grotesque and they are seemingly unaware or unconcerned that other people find them bizarre or frightening. The characters started life however as a comic strip way back in 1938 and it’s a testament to their bizarre personalities that they’re still just as popular today. So here now is the musical version. And what a delight it is . . . They're creepy and they're kooky . . . mysterious and spooky . . . They're all together ooky . . . The Addams Family. From the moment the house lights go down and the live orchestra strikes up the all too familiar first notes of the theme tune, and the audience joins in the finger clicking you know you’re in for a night of fun. The story centres around Wednesday Addams, played by the delightfully elfin-like Lauren Jones, the ultimate goth daughter now grown up (you’d be forgiven for thinking you were watching Winona Ryder’s character from the film Beetlejuice) who confides in her father that she has met a ‘normal’ young man from a ‘normal’ family, has fallen in love and wants to marry him.
Gomez, played to perfection by Ricardo Afonso promises his daughter, he’ll keep this secret from his wife Morticia, played with smouldering sensuality by Alexandra Burke, until the two families can be introduced to each other. Lesley Joseph is delightfully disgusting as the Grandma and provides some of the more adult humour to the proceedings. Some of the songs I found a little bland and instantly forgettable but there were plenty of stand out numbers to compensate. Uncle Fester played by Clive Rowe, not only acts as narrator but at one point sings a most touching love song to the moon. Morticia, with her emotionless demeanour and fixation on death sings a cheery little number, Death is just around the corner and, as you’d expect from an X factor winner, her voice is sublime. Pugsley Addams, Wednesday’s brother (Nicholas McLean), was one of the big surprises of the night when it was his turn to sing. What a voice! And it has to be said, when Lauren Jones as Wednesday sings, she has the voice of an angel, albeit a fallen one! The ‘Normal’ Beineke family played by Dale Rapley as Mal, Jacob Fowler as Lucas, and Kara Lane as Alice also have their musical moments. The family butler Lurch, (Dickon Gough) towers over the rest of the cast on stage and despite only communicating with grunts, makes a most unforgettable impression with his sometimes painfully slow but hilarious movements across the stage. Some of the most visually stunning scenes are provided by the Addams family’s dead ancestors as they leap and cavort around the stage and are also responsible for manoeuvring the cleverly designed set, (Diego Pitarch), which transforms the stage from gothic rooms of the family mansion to dark, eerie corners within its grounds The final dance sequence is a beautifully choreographed hybrid flamenco/Tango creation, (Alistair David), and contributes to the well deserved standing ovation. A special mention should go to the young woman on the sidelines who kept pace with the action and providing the most enthusiastic and engaging sign language throughout. This slick production is a delicious combination of musical theatre, ballet and pantomime. All in all it’s a funny, laugh out loud family show, that has something for everyone and is a delightful way to spend a couple of hours and I’d happily go and see the show again. Directed by Matthew White. The family will be kooky, mysterious and spooky to 12-07-25. Alan Birch 11-07-25 |
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