(C) Pamela Raith Based on the original single-panel gag cartoons, The Addams Family London Palladium
The Addams Family centres around Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, who has grown up and has a shocking secret that only Gomez knows; she’s fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family! Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before — keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. With his cherished Morticia in the dark, will Gomez manage to keep his daughter’s secret until the two families meet for a fateful dinner with hilarious consequences? Find out and join the entire Addams Family clan – Uncle Fester, Lurch, Pugsley and more for a heart-warming story of love, family and friendship… with a twist!
As head of the Addams clan, Michelle Visage and Ramin Karimloo are so much fun as Morticia and Gomez. Radiating Morticia’s gothic sex appeal, Michelle Visage serves a Morticia that pays homage to the character while totally making the part her own and her Just Around The Corner at the top of Act Two was a highlight of the evening.
Ramin Karimloo seemingly has a ball throughout and delivers a playful Gomez with lots of physical comedy. Gracing the audience with his signature stunning vocals, the score has never sounded better and his Not Today mid-way through Act Two brought the house down.
Lesley Joseph was a wonderful Grandma. Embodying the quirky character, she had the audience in fits of laughter throughout. Chumisa Dornford-May gave a brilliant performance as Wednesday and really blew the roof off the Palladium with her powerful vocals in Pulled and One Normal Night . As her brother Pugsley, Nicholas Mclean performed with finesse and handled the difficult Pugsley vocal superbly.
Speaking directly to the audience throughout as narrator, Sam Buttery ’s Uncle Fester was brilliant fun. Using physical comedy his Fester was larger than life and his The Moon and Me was a sweet love song between a person and the moon he’s in love with. Dickson Gough provides many a laugh as the gruesome Lurch in a part that seems beefed up for this concert staging.
Sean Kinsley and Kara Lane as Mal and Alice Beineke are perfect. Their up-tight portrayal of the classic out-of-towners provides many laughs and Kara Lane’s vocals towards the end of act one are triumphant. As their love-sick son Lucas, Ryan Kopel is fantastic. Bounding from scene to scene he creates the perfect sparing partner for Wednesday and their duet Crazier Than You has never sounded better. Giving a youthful performance throughout, Kopel’s exuberant physicality is the perfect fit for the large Palladium stage and his comedic timing hits every time. Keep a watch out for Kopel as I can see him becoming the new young West End leading man.
Over the past few years London audiences have been extremely lucky with the musical theatre concerts on offer. Gone are the days of book-in-hand concerts as we’ve been treated to confident performances in mostly full staged productions. The Addams Family is no different and with full costumes, production design by Diego Pitarch and exciting, energetic choreography from Alistair David this Addams Family concert feels fully formed. They’re creepy, they’re kooky and all together ooky! Playing for just three performances over two days, make sure to catch this very special concert of The Addams Family at the London Palladium. Full disclosure, you may just love it!
Reviewed by Stuart James
