Book: Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice
Music and Lyrics: Andrew Lippa
Director: Matthew White
When The Addams Family first appeared in Charles Addams’ comics for The New Yorker, the kooky family
didn’t even have names. However, over time they developed, with their distinctive personalities, darkly droll humour and distinctive gothic style, spawning multiple TV series, two hit 1990s films, one of the most iconic theme tunes of all time, a TikTok dance craze, and also a musical!
For those less familiar with the family, this creepy clan is composed of doting father and zealous husband Gomez (Ricardo Alfonso), his beautiful but chillingly cool wife Morticia (Alexandra Burke), their sadistic daughter Wednesday (Lauren Jones), peculiar son Pugsley (Nicholas Mclean), eccentric Uncle Fester (Clive Rowe) and witch-like Grandma (Lesley Joseph), accompanied by the towering and uncommunicative butler Lurch (Dickon Gough) and disembodied hand, Thing. Through the opening number When You’re An Addams, we are introduced to an ensemble of ghosts, the Addams family ancestors, who are a constantly ghostly presence throughout the show, drifting menacingly across the stage, performing beautifully intricate dance numbers, and making things go bump in the night.
In this new chapter for The Addams Family, crossbow-toting Wednesday Addams has been struck by Cupid’s arrow. She’s fallen for an ordinary young man, Lucas Beineke (Jacob Fowler) — much to the surprise of her decidedly unusual family. Then Wednesday confides in her father Gomez that they’re not just in love – they’re engaged! Keen for their families to meet, Wednesday convinces her parents to host the Beinekes (Kara Lane and Dale Rapley) for a perfectly normal dinner party, begging them for just One Normal Night. Naturally, things don’t go to plan: Morticia discovers Gomez has been keeping Wednesday’s secret, the Beinekes end up in Gomez’s torture chamber, and Pugsley accidentally spikes Alice Beineke with a stolen dose of Grandma’s truth serum.
Lauren Jones’ portrayal puts a new spin on Wednesday – gone is the macabre and pallid young girl that we are more familiar with. In fact, this incarnation of Wednesday is even missing her signature long plaits, replaced with a stylish pixie cut to highlight her rebellious nature. Jones plays Wednesday with a lot of teenage angst, fluctuating between lovestruck and sullen – often within seconds. Her sincere and powerful voice makes her solo number Pulled a genuine highlight, and her later duet Crazier Than You is a delightfully poppy earworm.
Ricardo Alfonso’s Gomez is the real heart of this production, as he plays the iconic patriarch with effortless charm. His warm, magnetic presence draws you in just as much as his sharp sense of comic timing, landing every quip with ease. He tugs at the heartstrings during the relatable solo number Happy/Sad, capturing a father’s bittersweet pride as his daughter grows up. Sadly, on this occasion, his performance was briefly halted due to a distressing incident in the auditorium — handled with absolute grace by Alfonso, who returned to the stage unfazed, once the incident was resolved, picking up the song with real heart and energy.
In contrast, Alexandra Burke’s Morticia is controlled and steely, infuriated by her husband and daughter for keeping secrets from her. Burke is breathtaking as Morticia, and it is truly difficult to keep your eyes off her statuesque silhouette in the trademark black gown, especially during the impressive Tango de Amor routine between Burke and Alfonso.
Clive Rowe’s oddball Uncle Fester is a real highlight, delivering the laughs as he joyfully breaks the fourth wall and engages with the audience. It’s impossible not to be charmed by his ukulele playing and silly, high-pitched vocals. Meanwhile, Dickon Gough quietly steals the show as Lurch, racking up just as many laughs without uttering a word. His painfully slow movements and deep, mysterious grunts are comedy gold. Another honourable mention must go to Kara Lane, who sings Waiting with an incredible voice that really draws the audience in and makes for a showstopping scene.
Overall, there’s plenty to delight die-hard Addams fans, while also offering a fresh new twist on the story. Diego Pitarch’s lavish set conjures up a mansion full of eerie elegance and hidden surprises. From shifting portraits to intricate backdrops, no detail is overlooked. This performance was BSL interpreted, and it was wonderful to see the interpreter seamlessly woven into the show, dressed in a striking black gothic outfit that perfectly matched the macabre atmosphere. Taking on the entire performance solo, she did a fabulous job keeping pace with some fast, jazzy numbers.
The Addams Family Musical truly delivers, telling a story about growing up and embracing change that proves even the most bizarre family can feel surprisingly relatable. The laughs just keep coming, making it impossible not to smile from start to finish, and the cast is nothing short of exceptional. This is a thoroughly entertaining night that’s sure to enchant both longtime fans and newcomers alike. If you’re yet to see it, then get your witch’s shawl on, as it’s time to pay a call on The Addams Family (click-click).
Runs until 12 July 2025 and on tour
