The Addams Family - Brownhills Musical Theatre Company

If you are looking for something to do this weekend, look no further than a trip to the Prince of Wales Theatre Cannock to visit The Addams Family. Better be quick though – there are only a handful of tickets remaining for this delightful production from Brownhills Musical Theatre Company.

Set a few years later than the cult 90s films, the show revisits the Addams Family in their New York home as they prepare to meet Wednesday Addams new boyfriend and talk of love threatens to turn their family unit upside down.

All the well-known characters are there: Morticia, Gomez, Wednesday and Pugsley, Uncle Fester and Grandma. Even Thing, the dismembered hand, makes an appearance. There is a risk sometimes when tackling a show that is so rooted in a cult classic, that the audience will expect the performers to be carbon copies of their on screen characters. Achieving a balance between meeting this expectation and putting a new take on things requires clever casting, a keen eye for detail and the confidence to take a few chances, and the production team here have got it spot on! With perfect casting, quirky choreography and music that has you humming (if not tango-dancing your way back to the car park) Jamie Norgrove (Director), Michele Windsor (Choreographer) and Ian Room/James Madison (Musical Direction) have crafted a show that is a sheer delight from start to finish.

There are few musicals which provide the chorus with a lot to do in so slick and simple a fashion – particularly with a company that ranges in age from 10 yrs and up. Here though they plan an ensemble of long-dead Addams Family ancestors, dressed totally in white (with fabulous costumes from Triple C Costume Hire) with skeletal make-up to match; making for a visual spectacle which constantly draws the audience’s attention. Their harmonies and musical numbers are extremely well-polished and their individual characterisation is maintained throughout, with each person adopting a stance and an expression that is suitable to their character (be it Caveman or Greek Goddess, Ballerina or Boudicca!). Full praise to every single member of the clan.

Heading up the family tree Neil Horne is a superb Gomez, full of wit, charm and charisma, while Louise Hewitt (Morticia) is simply captivating to watch. Emma Annis (Wednesday) and Nick Room (Pugsley) have their sibling rivalry down to a tee and both display excellent singing skills in some tricky numbers. There are strong performances too from Steph Coleman (Grandma) and Pete Smith (Uncle Fester). Together they create the perfect image of the abnormal family unit.

This is a slick, professional production that has you under its spell from the moment the oh-so-familiar Addams Family theme tune has you clicking in time to the overture. Rush to get a ticket or regret it for all eternity.

Runs until Saturday.