Based on the unique single-panel gag cartoons, The Addams Family has music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and a guide by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. The present opened on Broadway in 2010 simply blocks away from the Addams Family mansion positioned in Central Park. An instantaneous hit, the present received a number of awards earlier than touring across the US. It wasn’t till 2016 earlier than we welcomed the Addams Family to this facet of the pond in Edinburgh, adopted by a season in Singapore and two subsequent UK Tours. Now, get able to scream, snort and click on, click on alongside as Morticia, Gomez, Wednesday and the gang are again this time enjoying the London Palladium for simply three efficiency in a really particular all-star live performance manufacturing.
The Addams Family centres round Wednesday Addams, the last word princess of darkness, who has grown up and has a stunning secret that solely Gomez is aware of; she’s fallen in love with a candy, good younger man from a decent household! Now, Gomez Addams should do one thing he’s by no means completed earlier than — maintain a secret from his beloved spouse, Morticia. With his cherished Morticia in the dead of night, will Gomez handle to maintain his daughter’s secret till the 2 households meet for a fateful dinner with hilarious penalties? Find out and be part of your complete Addams Family clan – Uncle Fester, Lurch, Pugsley and extra for a heart-warming story of affection, household and friendship… with a twist!
As head of the Addams clan, Michelle Visage and Ramin Karimloo are a lot enjoyable as Morticia and Gomez. Radiating Morticia’s gothic intercourse enchantment, Michelle Visage serves a Morticia that pays homage to the character whereas completely making the half her personal and her Just Around The Corner on the high of Act Two was a spotlight of the night.
Ramin Karimloo seemingly has a ball all through and delivers a playful Gomez with numerous bodily comedy. Gracing the viewers along with his signature beautiful vocals, the rating has by no means sounded higher and his Not Today mid-way via Act Two introduced the home down.
Lesley Joseph was a beautiful Grandma. Embodying the quirky character, she had the viewers in suits of laughter all through. Chumisa Dornford-May gave an excellent efficiency as Wednesday and actually blew the roof off the Palladium together with her highly effective vocals in Pulled and One Normal Night. As her brother Pugsley, Nicholas Mclean carried out with finesse and dealt with the troublesome Pugsley vocal fantastically.
Speaking on to the viewers all through as narrator, Sam Buttery’s Uncle Fester was good enjoyable. Using bodily comedy his Fester was bigger than life and his The Moon and Me was a candy love track between an individual and the moon he’s in love with. Dickson Gough gives many fun because the grotesque Lurch in a component that appears beefed up for this live performance staging.
Sean Kinsley and Kara Lane as Mal and Alice Beineke are good. Their up-tight portrayal of the basic out-of-towners gives many laughs and Kara Lane’s vocals in the direction of the tip of act one are triumphant. As their love-sick son Lucas, Ryan Kopel is improbable. Bounding from scene to scene he creates the right sparing companion for Wednesday and their duet Crazier Than You has by no means sounded higher. Giving a youthful efficiency all through, Kopel’s exuberant physicality is the right match for the massive Palladium stage and his comedic timing hits each time. Keep a be careful for Kopel as I can see him turning into the new younger West End main man.
Over the previous few years London audiences have been extraordinarily fortunate with the musical theatre concert events on supply. Gone are the times of book-in-hand concert events as we’ve been handled to assured performances in principally full staged productions. The Addams Family isn’t any completely different and with full costumes, manufacturing design by Diego Pitarch and thrilling, energetic choreography from Alistair David this Addams Family live performance feels totally fashioned. They’re creepy, they’re kooky and all collectively ooky! Playing for simply three performances over two days, be sure to catch this very particular live performance of The Addams Family on the London Palladium. Full disclosure, it’s possible you’ll simply like it!
Reviewed by Stuart James