The Addams Family. Book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. Music and Lyrics by Andrew Lippa.
Directed by Alexamnder Unikowski. Choreographer Caitlin Schilg. Musical Director Darcy Kinsella. Production Managers. Lara Pulciani and Bradley McDowell. Set Design Ian Croker, Charlotte Jackson and Sophie Hope-White. Costume Design Helen Wojtas. Lighting Design Jacob Aquilina. Sound Design TeliaJansen.Stage Manager Lucy van Dooren. Canberra Philharmonic Society. Erindale Theatre.August 28 - September 13. 2025. Bookings: www.philo.org.au
Reviewed by Peter Wilkins
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| Principal cast of Canberra Philharmonic's production of The Addams Family |
Ghoul meets Goth in this quirky musical of television’s favourite oddballs The Addams Family. Now I’m not a mad fan of the TV series but I quickly warmed to Canberra Philharmonic’s zany production of Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice’s book and Andrew Lippa’s catchy music and lyrics. But when the Familiar TV theme tune piped up and the audience clapped in perfect unison it was obvious that the fans were going to have a great time. And they did, much to the credit of a lively cast and a talented team of creatives under the leadership of director Alexander Unikowski, musical director Darcy Kinsella and his orchestra and choreographer Caitlin Schilg.
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| Leah Peel Griffiths as Wednesday Addams |
The Addams Family may not be everybody’s idea of the ideal family, but they are completely content with their difference. Acceptance is as natural to them as breathing the open air is to the “normal” people. But to the prospective in-laws who visit to check out the family of their son Lucas’s girlfriend. Wednesday, they encounter no ordinary folk. The casting of the show by Unikowski, Shilg and Kinsella is impeccable, inspired by the beloved characters of the small screen, and yet possessing an individual idiosyncracity that these characters demand. Giuliana Baggoley exudes a mortifying command as Morticia. Quintin Gravatt, dressed in a formal suit, effectively captures the befuddlement of Gomez Addams finding himself in hot water when he breeches the family code of openness and honesty. Leah Peel Griffiths gives an enchanting performance as Wednesday, stricken by love for the outsider. Lucinda Hope-White is the masochistic juvenile brother, Pugsley. As Uncle Fester, Tim Stiles is perfectly cast as the sentimental lover of the Moon. Benjamin Martin makes a Munster-like Lurch, the inarticulate grunter of the household. Lauren Nihill undergoes a remarkable transformation to become the wizened, spell concocting Grandma. Into this brewing pot of unnerving oddness enter the unsuspecting red state parents of Lucas. Mal Beineke (Andrew Finegan) and his wife Alice (Amelia Andersson-Nickson) are your Apple Pie true Americans from Ohio. The fiery love of youth has faded into routine mediocrity, but this familiar convention of the arrival of the unwitting will soon turn their world upside down.
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| Giuliana Baggoley as Morticia Addams |
It is the casting of this new musical comedy splendidly supported by Unikowski, Shilg and Kinsella that makes this production such an enjoyable night at the theatre. Director Unikowski’s decision to bring the dead to life as a zombie chorus of ancestors adds to the gusto of the production. American Zombie meets Dawn of the Dead in a weird and wild collection of dance routines by the highly inventive Shilg. From Twist to Tap to Tango the stage explodes with energy and a series of showstoppers include Gravatt’s Trapped, the full cast’s Full Disclosure Parts 1 and 2 and a brilliant performance by Andersson-Nickson as Alice with Waiting. The course of true love never did run smooth and Griffiths as Wednesday and Clarke as Lucas endearingly traverse the rocky road of the love relationship.
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| Amelia Andersson-Nickson as Alice Beineke |
Philo has once again turned out a stylish, visually effective set design by Ian Croker, Charlotte Jackson and Sophie Hope-White and costume design by Helen Wotjas. Lighting by Jacob Aquilina adds to the atmosphere. The production is ambitious and on opening night the occasional technical challenge, such as the timing of the flying in and out of the large backdrop and a slippery floor will soon be ironed out. My only quibble is the clarity of diction, particularly in the musical numbers. The songs are the vehicles of character and plot and the lyrics are crucial to understanding a character’s intent. Leah Peel Griffiths is to be highly commended for the excellent clarity of Wednesday’s diction and as a result a totally absorbing performance.
