Rising from the crypt once more, OSMaD’s production of ‘The Addams Family’ invites us back into the world of everyone’s favourite creepy clan, reanimated with a musical twist. Directed by Joel Anderson, this fresh take finds Wednesday Addams, dark princess of the night, bringing her painfully normal boyfriend home for dinner – a decision that threatens to turn her family’s upside-down world right side up. The horror!
The stage design in this year’s OSMaD production was nothing short of spellbinding, packed with a complex set of moving parts and a graveyard’s worth of ancestors lurking in the background. With so many players, it easily could have felt overwhelming, but each ghostly relative pulled their weight as set dressing, storytellers and comedic relief, bringing a distinct personality as they went. The moving portraits framing the stage were particularly mesmerising, watching the story unfold as if from opera boxes (complete with buckets of popcorn).
The production leaned into practical effects and creative staging, a choice that brought the Addamses to life far more effectively than contemporary elements could. This old-school theatrical approach was so compelling that any digital elements in the production felt unnecessary – the show clearly thrives best on campy, cartoonish charm.
Costuming was another standout feature, working to identify different factions, both dead and alive. The Addams Family, velvet and venomous from head to toe, stood in stark contrast to the sweater-wearing, fatally repressed all-American Beinekes. Head of costuming, Joshua Saunders, had a clear artistic direction, a solid grasp of visual storytelling, and a talent for capturing hearts as the moon-eyed Uncle Fester! His teeny-weeny little astronaut costume was so absurdly endearing it had the audience howling with laughter.
The cast was chock-full of big personalities, led by Demetrius Kiriakidis’s dashing, kooky and fiendishly unforgettable Gomez Addams. Melanie Ott’s Morticia sent hearts (and perhaps a few souls) aflutter with her hypnotic elegance, while Marchella Rusciano-Barrow’s powerhouse vocals brought Wednesday’s rebellious spirit to life. Liz O’Hanlon’s Alice Beineke took the audience completely by surprise with her wild, wine-fueled confession scene, as did Jordan French’s deeply deadpan Lurch. And the dancing – wow! Dylan Henry’s choreography was ambitious, but the ensemble cast tackled it all with boundless energy.
A live band led by Ashton Turner delivered thrills and chills in equal measure. The masterful mix of instruments and vocals struck a perfect balance between spooky, whimsical and comedic beats that kept me utterly hooked the entire show. And those iconic finger snaps are impossible to resist!
OSMaD’s ‘The Addams Family’ is the kind of production that thrives in community theatre – bursting with creativity, heart, and playful spirit. From its brilliant staging to its standout cast, it perfectly captures the quirky charm that makes the Addams family so beloved. ‘The Addams Family’ will be haunting the Geoffrey McComas Theatre until December 14 – catch it if you can.
To book tickets to The Addams Family, please visit https://osmad.com.au/
Photographer: Ken Spence
