Featuring a family that can be easily described as creepy and kooky, mysterious and spooky, the hit musical starring the all-together ’ooky’ Addams family is coming to Douglas this weekend.

The island-based theatre group Centre Stage productions are presenting their latest show, based on the famously ghoulish family at the Gaiety Theatre, opening tonight (Saturday, October 12).

Featuring all the famous characters of the classic TV show, the all-local cast are led by the dark and charmingly-sinister Gomez Addams and his ghostly wife Morticia, played by David Dawson and Kate Stobart.

Shay Marsden plays the darkly-brooding, gothic daughter Wednesday, and Ethan Whyley and Rio Osborne will play the mischievously-destructive Pugsley on alternative nights.

The grotesque pairing of Uncle Fester and Grandma Addams will be played by Gary Corkhill and Judith Fullerton, and Mark Britton will play the foreboding and demonically-attentive butler, Lurch.

The story follows the macabre family as their unnaturally-dark world is turned upside down when Wednesday falls in love with Lucas, a smart, perfectly-normal and a most un-Addams-like young man.

When Wednesday invites Lucas, played by Lewis Poultney and his family to dinner, chaos ensues and some of the Addams’ best kept secrets are revealed.

And quite what Lucas’ parents, Mal and Alice, played by Neil King and Jess McManus, will make of ’Thing’ is quite another matter.

The large cast features a backing ensemble, known as the Addams Ancestors, based on various historical characters and icons.

The musical version of the Addams Family has been performed in theatres across the world, after opening in Broadway in 2010, with the touring version still filling out theatres across the UK.

This production offers theatre-goers the rare chance to see the show performed outside the UK, which director Val Cowley feels is a significant step for theatre in the Isle of Man.

’It is with great pride and privilege that Centre Stage Productions has been given permission to perform this fabulous, iconic musical,’ said Val.

’We as a society are passionate about the arts in our community and by bringing this new production to the island we feel we have achieved a tremendous coup not only for us as a society but for the island’s arts.

’The show has been performed in London, and the professional company have toured it across the UK, but we are one of the first amateur societies to be allowed to put it on, on such a large scale.

’We had to jump through a lot hoops to be allowed to show it, and we have all worked very hard to make sure we reach the high standards that the professional show has set.’

The Gaiety Theatre show will include all the songs from the musical, written by award-winning composer Andrew Lippa, and will also feature stunning light and sound effects, along with a spectacular video backdrop.

’We have all worked incredibly hard on bringing this show to the stage, and the stage show itself will be quite spectacular,’ said Val.

UK theatre professional Jack Weir is the show’s lighting director, and Alex Linney is in charge of the sound.

’The light show is amazing, and the video wall and sound effects will really bring the story and the characters to life,’ said Val.

’I think people will be very familiar with the Addams family story and characters.

’Most people will remember the TV shows or the successful films, and there is also a new cartoon film being released soon, so I think a lot of younger people will also recognise them too.

’But we have created a great show,’ she continued.

’It is very, very funny, and it is also as dark, creepy and spooky as you would expect the Addams family to be.’

The Addams Family runs until next Saturday (October 19), not including Monday, October 14.

Performances start at 7.30pm, and there is a matinee on Sunday (October 13) at 2.30pm.

Tickets are £23 and £25, available online from villagaiety.com

by Mike Wade

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