Show: The Addams Family Musical
Society: Southampton Musical Society
Venue: The Point, Eastleigh
Credits: Book by MARSHALL BRICKMAN and RICK ELICE Music and Lyrics by ANDREW LIPPA
Type: Sardines
Author: Aimee Collins
Performance Date: 09/04/2022
The Addams Family
Aimee Collins | 10 Apr 2022 22:37pm
The kooky clan finally hits Eastleigh!
Southampton Musical Society’s very own kooky clan finally took to the stage this week, two years after their initial run at The Point in Eastleigh was abandoned at the tech rehearsal due to Covid – and whilst for the cast this was a long wait, it was well worth it!
This family favourite tells the story of how moody teenager Wednesday Addams falls in love with the sweet and ‘normal’ Lucas Bieneke but a family dinner designed to bring the two families together, turns into much more than One Normal Night!
The chemistry within this cast is undeniable, providing an infectious energy on stage. The principals are truly wonderful, each adding their own delightful quirkiness to the whacky family dynamic!
Lauren Wilson shines as Wednesday Addams, having perfected the ‘Wednesday glare’. Wilson’s vocals are cracking and she commands the stage in Pulled where, despite her tough outer persona, we warm to the softer side of the princess of darkness!
Sweet and respectable Lucas Beineke, played by Jim Smith, is the perfect antithesis to Wednesday – Smith has the balance between completely besotted teenager and humour off to a tee!
A moment where the cast’s chemistry shines through is in Happy Sad. Daniel Ferrett captures the emotional conflict of an adoring father as his daughter grows into a young woman and experiences the trials of her first love. Despite the chaos that’s ensuing within the house at the family dinner, Ferrett and Wilson’s scene provides a really touching moment.
Dave Smith is charming as Uncle Fester as he falls in love with the moon! The Moon and Me is brilliantly choreographed by Sarah Earnshaw and Smith is joined by four Ancestors on stage in an endearing balletic number. It really is a delightful scene and conveys the real message of this musical comedy – that love conquers all!
Katy Watt is fantastic in her embodiment of the poised and iconic Morticia Addams. Despite her self-assured persona, as the show goes on, Watt reveals the more ‘human’ side to Morticia through her love for her husband and children.
The show is filled with brilliantly timed comedic moments, including Adrian Jones’ rumbling grunts and dramatically slow pace as Lurch, and Bethany Churcher’s outburst as Alice Beineke that certainly ends Act 1 on a high! Churcher sure hits some belters and her transformation from demure to slightly crazed leads the way for her to rekindle her love with husband Mal, played by Dave Brown, who also lets loose in Act 2!
Despite the strange and sadistic ways of the Addams Family, we laugh out loud throughout this show and leave believing that it really is all about love in the end!
Under the great direction of Jon Chalkley and the musical direction of Gem Tunley, this was a great way for Southampton Musical Society to return to the theatre! Look out for SMS as they will be back to The Point later this year with their new production of Sweeney Todd.
- : admin
- : 09/04/2022
I was surprised not to see 5 stars for this review. We couldn’t fault it.