First things first – anyone thinking about going to MYCO‘s current musical The Addams Family at Oxford Playhouse should buy a ticket right now.
For a start it’s really funny – we laughed all the way through, some members of the audience guffawing so loudly, thanks to calibre of the jokes, it was hard to hear the actors.
The set was also really cool, perfectly portraying the dark, gothic, sardonic nature of The Addams Family and their strange version of reality.
What was even more impressive and heartening was the fact that the hugely skilled and vast cast (57 in total) were not only brilliant, well rehearsed, enthusiastic and skilful, but all aged between 12-18.
And boy could they sing! Sacha Willans who plays Gomez Addams – the doyenne of the Addams Family – literally took our breath away. New to musical theatre, with a background in choral and operatic singing, namely at Magdalen College Choir and Waterperry Opera, his voice was stunning. When he hit those top notes we all stared in awe.
Wednesday Addams played by Lily Aspen was another star of tomorrow, holding the audience in the palm of her hand during the big musical numbers. But that’s the thing about MYCO, they don’t do things by half.
The choreography was excellent (how Hannah Bates as Alice Beineke and Susanna Fullah as Morticia Addams danced in those heels we will never know), the set impressive, the costumes all out and the acrobatics unexpected.
As the plot progressed – Wednesday falling in love with the acutely fidgety and awkward Lucas Beineke from Ohio, brilliantly played by Sam Blake – the kookie, creepy, oddball Addams family had to come to terms with this ‘betrayal’ and the terrible normality of the Beineke family.
Could you tell it was an amateur production? There were a few minor mistakes – the mics were a bit fuzzy and wrong names used, but on the whole it was a hugely energetic, enthusiastic, feel-good, comedic and impressive musical. The whole audience loved it and everyone was cheering by the end.
So go, whether it’s for the feel-good factor alone or just to glimpse the stars of tomorrow in action. it’s a no-brainer. On until tomorrow (Sat April 8) with limited availability.
Director El Blagrove take a bow – MYCO has pulled it off again!
Review by Bea Payne and Halli Harrison
THE ADDAMS FAMILY IS AT OXFORD PLAYHOUSE UNTIL SATURDAY APRIL 8. BOOK HERE https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/the-addams-family-a-new-musical
