Book by
Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice - Music and Lyrics by Andrew Lippa
Directed by
Stephen Pike - Musical Direction by Matthew Webster
Choreographed
by Annette Sharpe -Set Design by Brian Sudding
Costume
Design by Christine Pawlicki and Barbara Denham
Presented by
Queanbeyan/Palerang Regional Council
The Q –
Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre until 19th March
Reviewed by
Bill Stephens
A hand
appears through the curtain – Dada Da Dum - and the entire audience, young and
old, spontaneously respond, Click Click, and are immediately transported into
the bizarre and macabre world of the Addams Family. Uncle Fester, Gomez,
Morticia, Wednesday, Pugsley, Grandma and Lurch all come to life in Stephen
Pike’s slick and stylish production of Andrew Lippa’s funny, subversive musical
which slyly examines notions of normality.
When
daughter, Wednesday (Rachel Thornton) confides in her father, Gomez (Gordon
Nicholson) that she’s in love with ‘normal’ Lucas (Liam Downing) and implores
Gomez not to tell Morticia (Lainie Hart) until they meet Lucas’s family, the
scene is set for a series of hilarious confrontations and revelations as both
families wrestle with the differences in their lifestyles.
In a strong
ensemble cast, Gordon Nicholson is superb as Gomez. His comedy timing
throughout is brilliant, and his songs superbly articulated, but he also
manages to tug the heartstrings as he offers his daughter some fatherly advice
in “Happy, Sad”. No less impressive is
Lainie Hart, hilarious and spookily glamorous as Morticia. Tim Stiles gives a
scene stealing performance as Uncle Fester, and his singing of the beautifully
staged “The Moon and Me” is one of highlights of the show.
Rachel
Thornton and Liam Downing as the young lovers, and Callum Doherty, deliciously
revolting as Pugsley, all shine in quirky roles, as do Barbara Denham as
Grandma and Nathan Rutups as Lurch. Joseph McGrail-Bateup and Deanna Gibbs, as
the stitched-up parents of Lucas, both earn their fair share of laughs.
An excellent
orchestra, attractive, uncluttered, setting, fine lighting and sound design, witty
costumes and clever, quirky choreography, well executed by the hard-working
ensemble of blank-faced zombies, all contribute to an entertaining and satisfying
realisation of this fresh and engaging show.
Photo by Steph Burgess
This review first published in the digital edition of CITY NEWS on 5th March 2017
