“The Addams Family” by ESNA
Loughborough Town Hall

One of my favourite, fun musicals has come around again, as an aperitif for Halloween. They may be creepy, kooky and all together ooky but The Addams Family are one of America's most loved comic strip creations and are as entertaining to a five year old as to a one hundred and five year old. Thankfully I am somewhere in the middle of that age range.

Young Wednesday Addams is growing up fast, and has fallen in love with Lucas, and wants to get married. She confides in her Dad, Gomez, but wants to keep it a secret, for the time being from her Mum, Morticia. But can Gomez keep the secret and what will happen when Lucas's parents meet The Addams over dinner and partake of the Addams favourite parlour game?

Danielle Aley (Wednesday) is feisty in this role but what a lovely voice, which was really highlighted in "Pulled" and the wonderful duet "I'm Crazier Than You".

Kirt Hammonds (Gomez) absolutely oozes character and his voice is practically operatic. I can't remember seeing Kirt before, but I would have remembered that voice. A lovely sense of comedy timing to go with that powerhouse of a controlled voice.

Julie Easter (Morticia) looks so different in that black wig, but there's no disguising that wonderful easy stage presence. Julie has perfected the matriarchal role while looking sexy all at the same time

Phil Burrows (Uncle Fester), one of my favourite characters in this musical. There's a fun, quite child like quality about this part that Phil brings out. Then there's the quite melancholy side of Fester when he confesses his love for the moon.

One of the new sections that has been inserted into this production includes Fester's liaison with the moon in his song "The Moon And Me" which includes a little bit of theatre magic. We also get to see Fester flying, again with a little bit of black magic help!! We also get a glimpse of Phil's musicianship in this role.

John Smith (Lurch), yet another of my favourite characters in this play. Lurch is just a lovely gentle comedy part, and it's the voice and the physicality of this part that makes the part such fun to watch. But watch for the surprise from Lurch in Act Two, something that always makes me smile from the revelation, and I'm saying no more about that, just in case anyone reads this and has not seen the musical before. Lovely controlled performance by John.

Ollie Cunliffe (Pugsley) is another new name to me, but a rising local star methinks. One thing that I was really pleased to see was that, normally when you go and see The Addams Family, Pugsley is always a bit of a tubby character, but Ben Hardy, the director has decided not to put Ollie in a fat suit to play the part and it works just as well. Ollie has a really good voice which shows in his solo "What If".

Liz Berrisford (Grandma), and any crazy Grandma figure is a winner with me, and Liz looked to be having a ball playing this zany role.

Jonny Painting (Lucas), looked the archetypal U.S. school kid, thanks to the costume department. What I've always loved about Jonny is his clear voice; you can hear every word he sings and he has just the right vocal tone for most musical theatre roles. His duet with Danielle in "Crazier" is a perfect pairing of voices.

Gareth Busson (Mal – Lucas’ Father) and Clare Hazeldine (Alice – Lucas’ Mother) also make a fine pairing and it's always nice to see a character change from one character to a more exciting, and wilder character. Something these two characters do.

In all the productions I've seen of "The Addams Family", I can't remember the yellow hairy creature, which I think was played by Liz Bristowe, and called Cousin Itt. Itt reminded me a bit of a character in the Banana Splits TV programme from the 1970's. Where this character came from I don't know, but I loved itt.

Someone else who had a hand in the proceedings was Becky Robinson as Thing.

A mass of an ensemble of ancestors, who were fun to watch and really fleshed out the cast and stage complete with their amazing costumes, wigs and make up, courtesy of Molly Limpets, Ben Hardy and Emma Artis.

The sets were, as expected from ESNA productions, were frighteningly brilliant, thanks to Ash Moulton, Ben Hardy, Duncan Gadsby and UK Productions.

Beautifully clear sound from the talented group of musicians that made up the twelve piece orchestra under the guidance of Jon Orton.

Sound engineers are Rob Temperton and Harry Bridge, and the spectacular Lighting Design is by Andy Harding.

The choreography by Carl Brierley-Edwards was magical, and covered several styles, including a wonderful tango section with Gomez, Morticia and the ancestors

Directed by Ben Hardy and what I loved about this production that he has slipped in several topical bits in for us to spot. As with other productions Ben has had a hand in, he also likes to tease with nods to other musicals, and there are a few to spot in this one. Some may not spot these nods but it's always fun to look out for them. It is clever, it is fun and it keeps the shows fresh for those like myself who has seen this show on several occasions.

This productions ranks as high as any professional touring production I've seen. This is undoubtedly due to the hard work, blood, sweat tears and talent in local theatre today. Talent on every level of local theatre, and it's that love for performing and producing shows like this one that keeps the level so high.

There are giant spiders, rats, cobwebs ghosts and gargoyles.Frighteningly fantastic fun for all.

“The Addams Family” is at Loughborough Town Hall until Saturday 12 October