THE ADDAMS FAMILY

 

Book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice

Music and Lyrics by Andrew Lippa

Based on characters created by Charles Addams

Directed by Alexander Unikowski

Musical Director: Darcy Kinsela

Choreographer: Caitlin Shilg

Canberra Philharmonic Society

Erindale Theatre to 13 September

 

Reviewed by Len Power 28 August 2025

 

First appearing in a series of cartoons in the New Yorker magazine in 1938 by Charles Addams, the 1964 television series brought international fame to the fictitious and eccentric Addams family with their weird interest in all things macabre and grotesque. The musical comedy opened on Broadway in 2010, running for over 700 performances. While the show has an original score by Andrew Lippa, it retains the very recognizable signature music of the TV series in its opening and closing moments.

The plot centres around the Addams’ teenage daughter, Wednesday, who wants to marry a normal young man, Lucas Beineke, to the consternation of her parents. The rather familiar storyline is spiced up with the macabre attitudes and characters of the family and the chorus of their dead ancestors.

There are some nice performances amongst the leading players, especially Leah Peel Griffiths as the Addams’ daughter, Wednesday, who deftly captures the rebellious spirit of a troubled teenager wanting, abnormally, to be normal. She sings her role with a pleasing strength and confidence.

Leah Peel Griffiths (Wednesday)

The delightfully grotesque character of Uncle Fester is a gift for any actor who plays him. Tim Stiles gives a very warm and funny performance in the role and his singing of ‘The Moon and Me’, the best song in the show, is outstanding.

Giuliana Baggoley plays and sings the role of the mother, Morticia Addams, very well but some of her funniest lines lacked energy and timing in their delivery. Quintin Gravatt as the father, Gomez Addams, sang well and gave a straight-forward performance as the worried father, but might have been funnier if he’d played the over-the-top latin lover that the script and songs hinted at. The couples’ shining moment was the Tango de Amor late in the second act.

There were fine performances, too, from Lauren Nihill as Grandma, Benjamin Martin as Lurch, Andrew Finnegan as Mal Beineke, Amelia Andersson-Nickson as Alice Beineke and Callan James Clarke as Lucas Beineke.

The Addams family (left) and the Beineke family (right)

The large chorus of Ancestors were suitably grotesque and funny with fine costuming by Helen Wojtas. They sang and danced Caitlin Shilg’s choreography very well.

Director, Alexander Unikowski, kept the action moving at a good pace and ensured that the macabre visuals and surprises were well-presented and colourful. The music was played with gusto by the orchestra, conducted by Darcy Kinsela.

‘The Addams’ Family’ may not be the most memorable musical of recent years, but Philo’s new production is bright and breezy, and the enthusiasm and hard work of the large cast makes the show an enjoyable entertainment.

Photos by Ben Appleton 

Len Power's reviews are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in the ‘Arts Cafe’ and ‘Arts About’ programs and published in his blog 'Just Power Writing' at https://justpowerwriting.blogspot.com/