Review of The Addams Family Musical: School Edition (Team Cousin IT) at the Cripps Hall Theatre, Northampton

I first saw the stage musical version of The Addams Family five years ago, and this, the school edition presented by NMTC Youth Society offered an intriguing prospect of how the somewhat dark humour that the main show might have been toned down.

It came as quite a delight, in the end, to discover that, mostly, it hadn’t been toned down at all. Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice’s book, and Andrew Lippa’s lyrics, constantly relish in death and the methods of. And in a very subtle, and clever moment, the show even has a covid joke, which for once, I actually liked. The shows can stop doing it now though.

Gomez is of course the main player in this musical, and what a truly brilliant performance Joe Jeffery brings to the stage. It is a total show of confidence and his stage presence is brilliant for someone so young. I also absolutely loved his comic timing, making the most of every little joke in the show. Hatti Taylor equally shines as Morticia, a slinky and stylish performance, which relishes in the deadpan look of the character. Both also perform their songs with extremely impressive vocal abilities, and Jeffery shows a brilliant skill with his accents and mickey-taking moments, which the audience loved.

Lily-Grace Tofte (who I remember shining on stage as young Cossette a few years back in Les Misérables, and slightly more recently in the adult company show Made in Dagenham) continues to dazzle with confidence as Wednesday, and her unquestionable vocal skills are on full display in several songs. Elsie Lovell provides a great amount of fun as her torture loving brother Pugsley as well and brings a great deal of depth to the character.

Clearly having a lot of fun on stage is Winter Wilmot as Uncle Fester, and serving also as our narrator for the show. I have to admit, that the whole moon storyline that Fester has in the show does not convince me, but with Wilmot’s performance, it at least is provided with some poignancy and charm.

Much like the character did in the adult version, Lurch, lurches across the stage in constant scene-stealing moments, and Isaac Standage in the role takes his chance with great humour.

Finally, for special mention from the cast is Zachary Pilkington as Mal, a brilliantly contrasting performance, but to say more, would be a spoiler. Let’s just say, he gives a fabulous performance.

There was very little to criticise from the show as a youth production, and mostly any minor issues were technical ones with some slightly sluggish scene changes and a few wayward spotlights. However, for a show that has a great deal going on, it was mostly brilliantly executed.

The show is on stage again on Sunday 10th April, with this team performing the evening performance, with this afternoon Team Thing is in action and I am looking forward to seeing what this different cast brings to the show.

Click your fingers and magic up some tickets while you can.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Performance reviewed: Saturday 9th April 2022 (matinee) at the Cripps Hall Theatre, Northampton.

The Addams Family: School Edition runs until Sunday 10th April at the Cripps Hall Theatre and details can be found at https://www.northamptonmusicaltheatrecompany.co.uk/youth/

The Addams Family is an NMTC YOUTH SOCIETY PRODUCTION

Production photos: Ashleigh Standage

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