Rachel and Seren Howells visit Cardiff’s New Theatre to review the musical comedy, The Addams Family starring Cameron Blakely and Joanne Clifton.
There’s plenty of kooky fun at Cardiff’s New Theatre this week as Andrew Lippa’s musical comedy, The Addams Family treads the boards!
A story of love, family and friendship, The Addams Family follows the course of true love when Princess of darkness, Wednesday Addams falls in love with a sweet young man from a respectable family. Wednesday’s father, Gomez must keep the situation secret from his beloved wife, Morticia until the two families meet for dinner, but not without mishaps and consequences along the way.
From the offset, the audience know they are in for a good night as a hand appears from the darkness and clicks its fingers to the iconic Addams Family theme song. Lights and sound are used effectively creating a spooky atmosphere while setting further pacing for the comedy of the show of which the ensemble cast fabulously deliver.
From his opening number, Cameron Blakely commands, the stage as Gomez Addams, the likeable father-figure stuck between two strong women. He is complimented by Joanne Clifton, who brings a touch of darkness and sophistication to Morticia as well as some wonderful dancing in the second half.
Kingsley Morton and Grant McIntyre build a great rapport as the Addams siblings, Wednesday and Pugsley, while the former demonstrates a phenomenal voice for rock songs, these being among the evenings many highlights.
Scott Paige as Uncle Fester constantly has the audience laughing and delivers further comic timing in his scenes with Cameron Blakely. Paige also provides one of the shows tenderest scenes as Fester sings his love to the Moon. Further laughs are subtly provided by Dickon Gough as the tall, lumbering butler Lurch who embodies an otherworldliness quality to his performance.
While Sean Kingsley and Kara Lane demonstrate great chemistry as the Beineke’s the ensemble cast add a further lift to the Addams dinner party as the ancestors. The ensemble’s well-performed choreography also helps give The Addams Family a further upbeat feel, while the spooky set delivers fast scene changes without affecting the narrative. It’s nice to see a show using a set to create the atmosphere which draws the audience in more with its authenticity.
A spook-tacular treat for all, The Addams Family continue to delight all who enter their world of musical comedy. The production continues at Cardiff’s New Theatre until November 20. Visit the New Theatre website for further details.