Previewing ‘The Addams Family’
As I write this we are two weeks away from Innerleithen and District Amateur Operatic Society’s 2024 production ‘The Addams Family’. I wrote last year about my own past in amateur musical theatre at Innerleithen, as well as the friendships, skills and great times it has given me. I am not in the company again this year but want to do whatever I can to help sell the show, and give the cast and crew the big houses their hard work and talent deserves. So here is a preview of this years show, and how you can get your hands on tickets….
Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family– a man her parents have never met. And if that wasn’t upsetting enough, Wednesday confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before– keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents.
The first thing you have to know about this show is it is very much a musical comedy. And if you are doing a comedy at Innerleithen then you can’t go far wrong with Dougie Russell as your leading man, playing the demanding part of Gomez. In a near 25 year stage career Dougie has shown his comic timing to superb effect in shows such as Oklahoma!, South Pacific, Sister Act and in last years brilliant Shrek The Musical as Donkey. Dougie also has major acting chops and there is more than a shade of his unforgettable Tevye in this years Gomez - the amusing (and lyrically dextrous) monologues, the melancholy of a father grappling with his daughters growing up and the man holding together a family. It’s all there, and Dougie’s Gomez looks like it will be another performance to remember from this versatile player.
You can’t have Gomez without Morticia and it’s brilliant to see Angela Duncan back in a leading role at IDAOS. Angela lit up the stage as Belle in Beauty and The Beast back in 2010 (gulp) and she returns to a leading part the full package, with her stage experience in Edinburgh companies adding to her natural talent. Anyone who knows Angela and her nature will, I am sure, be fascinated to see how she can transform herself into the enigmatic, dark matriarch Morticia. Get a ticket and find out.
The Addams family bairns are brought to life by Erin Thompson as Wednesday and Rosie Graham as Pugsley. Erin has the singing voice, comic timing and deadpan delivery to nail this iconic part and is sure to be the emotional heart of the show, particularly her relationship with Gomez. When she isn’t treading the boards, Erin is part of the team breathing new life into the Eastgate Theatre in Peebles and I wish her every success in that too :) Rosie is playing the perhaps surprising part of teenage misfit (and very male) Pugsley. Many will remember Rosie’s timeless turn as Dorothy in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ back in 2018 - Well, Dot, you’re not in Kansas anymore!! I can’t wait to see what this talented performer can do with this part, Rosie demands an audiences attention when she walks on stage and this will be no different. Pugsley’s sparring partner in the show is Grandma Addams, played by Karen Wilson (AKA Mrs Tweed Valley Blogger). Of course I am biased, but Karen knows I am her toughest critic (and biggest fan)! I am so impressed at the level of detail she has put into this role - from jewellery, to props & potions, teeth, makeup, rodent pets, voice - no stone has gone unturned in bringing this gruesome granny to life! She will, of course, nail this comic, kooky part and we are very proud of her :)
Finally in this dysfunctional family we come to the ambiguous Uncle Fester and the giant butler Lurch. Dale Burnside has his first major role as Fester. Dale has worked incredibly hard to obtain and now polish this role, which comes with the pressure of an epic solo number. Dale is Mr Laidback and will, I am sure, sail through this, bringing the weird, deranged and supernatural Fester to life! Finally in the family is Jamie McCubbin as Lurch. Far be it from me to suggest that 6 foot plus Gallovidian Jamie was perfect casting for the tall, inarticulate Lurch. It is a great role for Jamie to get his teeth into, and has a few surprises in store for audiences…
The dramatic tension in the show comes from the introduction of the All American Beineke family to the mix. Playing Lucas, love interest of Wednesday, is Jonnie MG. Jonnie has been a player as a child, graduating from the youth section Kids Innerleithen Youth Theatre (KIYT). Now he has his first leading part, giving him a chance to share his strong voice and exuberant style with the world. I expect him to knock it out the park. Mum and Dad, Alice and Mal, are played by Nicole Graham and Roger Brydon. Nicole is a newcomer to IDAOS, and to Innerleithen, throwing herself into the Society, and into the seemingly uptight Alice. Keep your eye on Alice, as she may just steal the show… Roger has now done several shows with IDAOS and has one of his best parts this year with Mal, getting to go on a character arc throughout the show, a real chance for Roger to stretch his acting muscles. Roger is the very model of a great company man, offering sage advice (emotional and medical) and IDAOS is greatly enriched with him in the cast.
Supporting the main players is a strong company packed full of stage experience and talent, with a number of former leading players adding to the richness and depth of the Innerleithen ensemble. It’s also great to see a number of new faces in this friendly company.
The production team is headed by Mr Producer himself, Brian McGlasson. This is the 30th anniversary of Brian’s first Innerleithen production, Charlie Girl in 1994. Frankly, that’s an unbelievable shift, given the work involved in putting on shows of his standard, under the restrictions of the small Memorial Hall stage. Of course, Brian is constantly pushing the envelope technically and in performance so we can expect some of his trademark artistic flourishes, and expert stagecraft, to be on full display in this modern, offbeat production. Mo Anderson is back for a second year as choreographer, with the company gamely giving her inventive and challenging routines their all! In particular a thrilling tango promises to impress… And of course you can’t have a musical without music - Jennifer Campbell is back with her baton again, ably assisted by the exciting talent of Michael Gemmell on the piano. Jenny has done a wonderful job of marshalling the company through six shows now, and they have all been challenging sings, but as Jenny will tell you the company always pull them out of the bag - and so much of that is down to her. Michael is preparing for his final show with IDAOS as he pursues his musical career in further education - what a loss, but he will always be welcomed back and everyone involved at IDAOS wishes him every success. Jenny and Michael will head up a full, live orchestra to bring the exciting songs and score of the show to life.
Last, and by no means least, there is the small army of behind the scenes personnel who make the whole show tick. While it’s far too many to list individually, I will however pick out a few key folk. The whole Committee of Management work incredibly hard to pull everything together, with Office Bearers President Pam Graham and the new Treasurer/Secretary team of Annette Ferguson and Anne McKinnon among those doing first class work all year round. The Addams Family ancestors from various periods in history feature throughout the show, so a real chance for Rhona McGlasson and Susan McGinn in the wardrobe team, and Angela Wilson in Props, to get creative! Mark Phelan or the Mad Professor as I call him, is Stage Manager and its his job to keep things moving smoothly and safely. Alexina Hamilton is the public face of IDAOS as Front of House manager, keeping everyone in attendance safe, comfortable and happy. One day she will write her memoirs about some of the incidents down the years… And lets end with the person you, dear reader, should be speaking to next. Jean Wilson, who is Booking Secretary for this show! Get your tickets today using the information below…
