Musical Comedy ★ ★ ★
Review by Sofia Moran
The creators of the hit Jersey Boys bring you a twist on the beloved Addams Family, a
musical version where Wednesday is in love.
The idea was good, but the execution was average.
Despite the undeniable talent of the cast, the script itself lacked believable depth necessary
for a good storyline. The main plot line focuses on the seemingly forbidden love of
Wednesday Adams (Chumisa Dornford- May) and Lucas Beineke (Ryan Kopel). However,
their romance lacks the essential chemistry, raising questions about the casting of Lucas and
the believability of the narrative.
This already is rocky territory for a musical to be built on.
The interaction between the two families and the subsequent events involving the Beineke
parents feel unconvincing, with their subplot of self-discovery appearing as a feeble attempt
to inject depth into the narrative.
Much of the casting is spot-on, with commendable performances from Michelle Visage as
Morticia Addams and Ramin Karimloo as Gomez Addams. Visage in particular had the
necessary elegance needed for the role and conveyed it perfectly on stage – it’s a shame the
script didn’t allow for more action on her part as the most significant things she does is
tango with her husband and accept his apology.
The attempt to break the fourth wall with Fester adds confusion and a sense of
insignificance, potentially cheapening the production by evoking associations with a
pantomime.
The ensemble, portrayed as ghosts of past Addams family members, fails to make a
meaningful impact on the production. While vocally talented and brilliant dancers, their
presence often seems unnecessary, merely filling space during dance numbers, floating
around the cast during scenes and bringing on props. This creative choice, although
intriguing in theory, lacks forethought in execution.
Despite good choreography and talented performers, the musical numbers suffer from
songs that often feel extraneous, filling up time without anything memorable or particularly
emotion provoking. Vocally, Chumisa Dornford- May (Wednesday Adams) and Kara Lane
(Alice Beineke) are outstanding and in general have good stage presence with particular
reference to Dornford- May as a performer to watch.
The production's costume and makeup are commendable, particularly the ensemble, but
the stage set falls short of its potential, feeling somewhat bare for a production boasting
such big names. Although the dinner scene was set up nicely, the most memorable part of
production was the lightning that would flash every now and then.
One particular grievance was the fact that majority of scenes were centred upstage, causing
a lack of engagement simply due to distance. Perhaps a prime seat would be better, but that
would come at a financial cost the show is not worth paying, unless you are a die hard
Addams Family fan – although as famous as the family is, it doesn’t really have a cult
following.
Despite some clever one-liners that elicit chuckles, the show falls short of being truly
outstanding. The talent of the cast cannot compensate for the overall lack of substance,
preventing the play from reaching its full potential.
Book by: Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice
Music and Lyrics by: Andrew Lippa
Based on Characters Created by: Charles Addams
Director: Matthew White
Cast includes: Michelle Visage, Ramin Karimloo, Lesley Joseph
Venue: London Palladium
Running time: Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes (including 20-minute interval)