The Addams Family at the Wales Millennium Centre Cardiff Review

Reviewed by Lee-Anne McCarthy

One of the most famous, entertaining, notorious families takes to the stage in the touring production of The Addams Family. As a well-known small and big screen family, I think much of the audience of the Millennium Centre came to the show with great expectations. Could the stage production fill us with humour and delight as the TV show and movie did?

The Addams Family production tells the story of the close knit creepy clan whose love for each other is clear to see. The love story of Wednesday Addams develops to the seemly normal Lucas. You wonder if their love will prevail despite the huge differences between their families. Alongside this love story another one plays out. It is a love triangle between Gomez, Morticia and Wednesday. Dad Gomez finds himself torn between the wants of his daughter and the expectations of his wife. When Gomez sings ‘trapped’ you can completely understand to feeling of being between a rock and a hard place. The whole production is very uplifting and love really does win out but so do the really family values held by the Addams family of truth and trust.

My absolute favourite on the night was Cameron Blakely he played long suffering husband and father Gomez Addams. You felt his torment about being stuck between wife and daughter. He was definitely being ganged up on. Many of the productions songs where sung by Blakely whose voice was incredible. Blakely was supported by Samantha Womack as Morticia and Carrie Hope Fletcher as Wednesday. Both women played their roles so well. Womack embraced the sexy allure of Morticia and Fletcher was every bit the stroppy teen you expected. Uncle Fester played by Les Dennis provided some great humour in the show and provided in some places an almost narrator role. He was funny, quirky almost even lovable just how I always expected Fester to be.

The set was fantastically designed and took you right into the Victorian mansion of the family in Centre Park. The set pieces, moving pictures and cobweb covered set made you really feel like you were in the creepiest house in town.

We had a tremendous evening at the Millennium Centre. The Addams family was a fun family friendly production that we’d recommend to all. We give Addams family a wonderful 5 stars.

Rating: 5/5

Tickets cost from £16.50 to £49.50 (booking fees may apply).

The Addams Family is at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff from 1-12 August 2017, for more information or to book tickets visit www.wmc.org.uk or call the box office on 029 2063 6464.

Wales Millennium Centre, Bute Place, Cardiff Bay, CF10 5AL | 029 2063 6464