Book: Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice
Music and lyrics: Andrew Lippa
Director: Matthew White
Creepy, kooky and most definitely spooky, The Addams Family has taken residence in the Liverpool Empire turning the stage into a mausoleum come torture chamber for the week.
Inspired by the 1930s cartoon characters of Charles Addams, most audience members will remember this seriously spooky family from the 1960s American TV series, or the films from the 1990s. Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice’s writing makes some wonderful nods to these, however, in the twenty-first century, Wednesday Addams is now all grown up and ready for her next adventure…. Marriage!
In a culture clash with the outside world, the family have invited the Beineke family for dinner, at Wednesday’s request. She has fallen in love with their son Lucas and hopes for the two families to unite. But will the crazy, twisted Addamses win over the straight-laced, ceonservative Beinikes? Moreover, will this musical comedy win over its audience?
Oh yes, yes it will! The writing is witty, hilarious, the story well told, the characters are larger than life, but with enough sincerity that you still feel for them (even if they are trying to poison, shoot or stab each other). The non-stop musical numbers are eclectic; operatic or soulful one minute then rocky or jazzy the next. This show is wacky and vivacious from start to finish, even the most easily distracted person won’t be able to take their eyes and ears away from this show.
The cast are all excellent and the ensemble of Addams Ancestors, stranded in the world of the living to help Wednesday’s plight, are as eerie and creepy as a group of dead folks can be. Bringing to life Alistair David’s inspired choreography, much of the production’s flair and spectacle would be lost without the gang of ghoulish ghosts.
In the principal roles, everyone brings humour and charm to their role. Joanne Clifton saunters around the stage taking on Marticias iconic walk, and Kingsley Morton as Wednesday is spunky and fiery, wilding her crossbow with gay abandon. Cameron Blakely who is reprising his role as Gomez Addams, once again shows off his lightning-fast wit and physical humour and has the audience gripping their sides with laughter. But it is Matt Slack as Uncle Fester, the audience’s narrator and guide, whose energy, presence, and relationship with the crowd gives this show its extra sparkle. His performance has echoes of Christopher Lloyd, weird, wonderful and simply charming.
The design and production team have done a superb job creating the museum-like mansion that is the Addams’ domain and the costume, wigs, and make-up team have masterfully transformed the cast into spectral phantoms. Designer Diego Pitarch’s overall look of the production is sinister chic, shadows, and shackles, it’s very creepy but very cool.
If you are already a fan of the Addams Family, this show will reignite your feelings and bring back a sense of nostalgia for the TV series and film. If you aren’t familiar with this spine-chilling gang, then let this musical be your introduction. Prepare to have your hair raised and your spine tingled, it might sound like a nightmare but this show is an absolute dream.
Runs until 12th March then touring
