Perched at the edge of my seat like a black crow on a cemetery cross, The Addams Family Musical held me hostage through song and dance for all 150 magically macabre minutes.
Background
While The Addams Family Musical conjures up, for many people, images of ghoulish and gothic content, the South African premiere of this international cult hit has taken Cape Town by storm since its opening in mid-December (it runs until 2nd February 2025 at The Homecoming Centre, formerly the Fugard). It has received rave reviews and top billing by both critics and seasoned theatre goers alike across the city.
Cast and characters
From the very first opening notes of the theme song to the overwhelming applause at the end, my eyes feasted on a frightfully fantastic show about the very eccentric and dark Addams Family. Expect larger than life characters (sometimes quite literally!) excellently cast into roles that fit this brilliant all-South African cast like well-tailored pin-striped suits. I’m specifically thinking of the looming Lurch, played by Brendan van Rhyn, or everyone’s favourite uncle, Fester, played by Yahto Kraft. Yahto quite simply buzzes, fizzles and pops on stage, electrifying the audience with his energy-generating interpretation of uncle Fester. A massive fan of not only this eerily endearing character, but also of the multi-faceted actor! Not forgetting the loyal and doting father and husband, Gomez (Tiaan Rautenbach), the magnificently seductive mother, Morticia (Samantha Peo) and the child of utter woe herself, Wednesday (Jordyn Schaefer). The beguiling relationship between brother Pugsley (Londi Zuma) and his ghastly Grandma (Candice van Litsenborgh) tugs at the heartstrings whilst chaos ensues in every hair-raising corner of the Addams residence.
The wonderfully witty patriarch of the Addams Family, Gomez, ties the whole family together in a weirdly relatable way, underpinned by strong morals and a compass-like sense of right and wrong. Sometimes, unintentionally, finding himself on the wrong side of his wife, Morticia, these two make a formidable and fearful couple through love and war, always with sparks flying in all directions, lighting fires as they land. On the other hand (haha!), we have the very conventional Beineke’s from Ohio, who keep sad secrets and half-truths from each other, all to be turned topsy-turvy on their first visit to the Addams residence.
“Oh Gomez, it’s dark, it’s depressing, it’s desolate. It’s a dream.” – Morticia Addams
The decadence lies in the details
Adding a literal second dimension to the show is the gorgeously ghoulish addition of the Addams ancestors, who were woken from the dead to help fight the noble battle for love. Lead by love-struck uncle Fester, this deliciously dark story can inevitably only have an (un)happy ending for Wednesday and her beloved Lucas, the son of the very vanilla Beineke’s.
Keep your eyes open for charming critter cameo’s, like the monster under the bed, Grandma’s rats and of course, Thing and Cousin Itt. The set has been cleverly designed to hide enthralling details in plain sight, so cast your eyes higher and wider than just the actors for a full submersion into the pure magic of this performance. Let the brilliant use of spotlights guide your eyes to their next bit of candy, whether it’s the passage of uncle Fester’ full moon, the flapping crow on the roof or Pugsley’s surprise appearances around the set.
Speaking of – in its meticulously executed simplicity, the set has been created to raise the hair at the back of your neck. Again, with clever backlighting, different elements of the set are highlighted at times: crypt-like clear boxes of skulls or entombed tangles of jungle plants, preserved in all its petrifying glory. With a lightning quick switch-around, smoke and a myriad of illusion-creating mirrors, dinner tables become bedroom furniture, or antique stools become deadly torture devices…ask Mel Beineke!
Song and dance
The Addams Family Musical comprises of eerily upbeat numbers, performed with so much energy and emotion that you simply can’t stop your foot from tapping along. The large cast channels every last bit of their heart and soul into each performance, culminating in an absolute other-worldly extravaganza. Our seats were almost right in the middle of the stalls, and a more immersive experience we couldn’t have asked for. Creepy choreography and an outlandish array of costumes compliment the soundtrack flawlessly, drawing the audience ever deeper into the delicious darkness.
Wednesday’s solo performances deserve an honourable mention. The conflict that rages between her head and her heart is clearly written on her face, and spills over into her voice, demanding empathy for this poor girl’s only wish for “one normal night.”
It feels wrong to single out one over another when it comes to sterling performances – Samantha Peo’s sultry voice coats you like liquid chocolate every time she shimmies into the spotlight, whilst Tiaan Rautenbach’s jocular numbers leave you chuckling as he navigates the slippery slope of people pleasing. Two sublime performances included solos by Londi Zuma (as Pugsley) and Bethany Dickson (as Alice Beineke), but let’s not release all the mystery from the mansion…
In one of the very last scenes, the family’s butler, Lurch, finally finds his voice and exchanges his very limited vocabulary of grunts and howls for an operatic performance of “Move Toward the Darkness.” Positively terrifying in his anatomically incorrect stature, this was probably one of the highlights for me. His shadow-like presence throughout the performance was just as comforting as it was positively spine-chilling.
“Be open to experience, and welcome in the new. Reach deep in your surprise bag; there might be a gift for you.” – Alice Beineke
In conclusion
I left the theatre feeling hauntingly happy. Creator Charles Addams would surely have surrendered to a standing ovation had he seen this rendition of The Addams Family. If you are looking for an evening of unconventional fun, please do not miss The Addams Family Musical. Under the watchful eye of Uncle Fester’s full moon lover, you will be faced with not only a world-class performance, but also with pertinent themes of love, acceptance, identity, fear and family feuds, all beautifully packaged under the ghoulish guise of The Addams Family.
Disclaimer: I was invited to this event in my personal capacity. There was no expectation for platform coverage in the form of a blog, or social media posts. This is my honest and truthful opinion and review thereof. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are solely those of The Little Hedonist, given in good faith and in no way influenced by the company or its affiliates. All images, unless otherwise stated/credited, are also my own.
The Little Hedonist endorses responsible drinking.
Don’t drink and drive. Not for persons under 18.
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