Theatre Review: Addams Family Musical

The Addams are, as I am sure many of you know, a fictional family. Weird, strange, and definitely dysfunctional, they are the creation of Cartoonist Charles Addams. Published in the New Yorker from 1938 until Charles’ death in 1988, they earnt themselves a T.V series in 1964, a made for T.V movie in the 1970s and were revitalised in the 1990s with two different films. As is, I don’t think I’ve ever come across anyone who doesn’t know the name of at least one of the characters; and that’s pretty much all I knew of the Addams family as well. I knew that Wednesday was the daughter, Morticia the mother and that one member of the household was a hand that clicked. 

I’ve been a fan of Carrie Hope Fletcher for a while, having followed her on Youtube and then being lucky enough to see her perform as Eponine in Les Miserables. As a result, I knew about the show, thought it looked like a really fun time, and knew that it was touring the U.K. So, when my friend, Alice, messaged and asked if I knew that the Addams Family was coming to Bath and did I want to go and see it, how could I say no? Whilst I knew very little about the actual family, what better way to mark the end of our degrees than with musical theatre numbers and dance routines?

Framed and led by the musical talents of Composer and Lyricist Andrew Lippa, the focus of this Addams adventure is on, the now 18-year-old, Wednesday Addams and the fact that she has fallen in love with … an ordinary boy! Revolving around ‘One (not so) normal night’ as she tries to successfully introduce Lucas and his family, from Ohio of all places to her’s and the inevitable pitfalls resulting from these introductions.

It was wonderful! The entire cast and crew, from Carrie, and Oliver Ormson to the Ancestors (one of whom is played by the hilarious Scott Paige), to the Orchestra, Music Director, and the various designers, were – are – so incredibly talented. Each song was catchy and heartfelt; the whole musical was quite profound, and the tone was exactly right; Light and comedic. It ensured that even during Gomez’s (Cameron Blakely) rendition of the very emotional ‘Happy/Sad’ the audience still had a smile on their faces. To be honest, the show was so enjoyable that I am confident in saying that I spent most of the show grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

Feeling a little pantomime-esque – this is not a bad thing, I adore Pantos, and it suited, down to the ground, the kooky nature of the family, both dead and alive, and the situations they found themselves in! – It was a fantastic, comedic romp through the up’s and down’s of first love, of identity, of family, and when two very different family’s meet. With an incredible cast, catchy musical numbers that I just can’t get out of my head – I need a U.K. cast recording, now! – It was a fantastically fun afternoon. Subtle in the Disney-like way it weaved in and contained jokes for the adults, it was fun for all ages, all levels of kookiness, and regardless of how familiar you were with the story/family beforehand.

Highly recommended. Go and see it now, and I promise you’ll wish you were an Addams.