After pining to see one of Andrew Lippa’s most famous musicals for years, I had such excitement and high expectations for Aria Entertainment’s production of The Addams Family.
Based on the fictional family cartoon by Charles Addams and later film franchise by Caroline Thompson and Larry Wilson, The Addams Family follows the story of Wednesday Addams, the daughter of a satirical and kooky family who relish in the macabre and odd. After falling in love with a conventional and preppy young man Lucas, the pair arrange a dinner for their parents to meet - leading to an evening of ghoulishly sour events that nearly cause the breakdown of each family. The show combines the dark and eccentric with classic camp comedy, providing a show that will make you want to die with laughter.
There were however pacing issues throughout the first half. For a first night show of a production that has toured for quite a while, this is to be expected, but it did make the first half feel slightly dragged out with a slow start. This being said, there were several highlights to leave the show remembering.
The setting was simple yet incredibly effective; portraying the dark, dreary interior we all associate with the gothic family; complete with symmetrical balconies for each couple to converse and barbaric, brutal contraptions fit for medieval torture.
Despite a few technical glitches here and there, the show was very entertaining for the mixed age range that made up the audience. A much-beloved pop-culture franchise turned into a wacky, witty family favourite musical.
Review by Esther Neville
Rating: ★★★
Seat: Stalls, J34 | Price of Ticket: £44.50