The Addams Family – Liverpool Empire

The Addams Family Musical opened on Broadway in April 2010 and had its first UK premiere in 2016. Six years later and this show is back doing the rounds once again with Liverpool’s Empire Theatre kicking off this Kooky UK tour!

Most of us know the famous Addams family and this show is no different in that it welcomes one and all, “the living, dead and the undecided”! ‘Morticia’ and ‘Gomez’ Addams are a devoted husband and wife who live in a wonderfully creepy and loving home with their two children ‘Wednesday’ and ‘Pugsley’. Wednesday and her new boyfriend ‘Lucas’ arrange for their families to meet for the first time and both long for just “one normal night”. Is this going to be possible in the murky, mysterious Addams home? Well, the famous ‘Uncle Foster’ isn’t far from the action and when ‘Grandma’ and butler ‘Lurch’ are also thrown into the mix, this night is destined to be as crazy as ever!

Upon the opening scenes, the audience soon realise that this show is pretty lively for one that prides itself on being relatively “dead”. The characters are all played expertly with stylised movements supporting the strong characterisation. Morticia does not walk, she glides which adds great authenticity to her performance. Gomez is particularly infectious, and the audience can’t help but enjoy his ‘dad jokes’ and flamboyant Latin charm.  

The soundtrack is not one I was familiar with, but it is delightfully diverse in terms of genres and sound. There are a few ‘pop-rock’ moments followed by some jazzy numbers and of course lots of tango too. Act One ends with a showstopper called “Full Disclosure” where we see an unexpected turning point unfold for some characters. This scene was filled with wonderful madness which was produced well by the creative team and powerfully executed by the whole cast.

The set is stunning with multiple sets of stairs, windows, doors and lots more being used dynamically throughout the production. The use of lighting and smoke creates the perfect mystifying ambience. A standout feature of this show was the choreography with huge credit to Choreographer Alistair David for his vision which reaches its peak during the impressive Tango scene delivered by the punchy chorus and talented lead cast members. The ensemble were noteworthy throughout, perfectly spooky and amusing, adding lots of colour and depth to this production.

The Addams Family Musical is easy watching that can be enjoyed by young and old. There is nothing too ‘deep’ or ‘heart-wrenching’ but perhaps that is exactly what is needed given the serious nature of the world around us at the moment. Some of it is a little cheesy but it is filled with wholesome charm and lots of humour! Good Luck to ‘The Addams Family’ as it embarks on their tour of UK & Ireland from now until the summer. To find your nearest venue and ticket information, please visit https://www.theaddamsfamily.co.uk/tour/

Reviewer: Bláthíne Maguire

Reviewed: 8^th March 2022

North West End UK Rating: ★★★★★