16/10/2026
🪦🪦🪦THE REVIEWS ARE IN🪦🪦🪦
Thank you so very much NODA East District 10
ShowThe Addams FamilySocietyBasOP
Director – Vikki Purton
Choreographer -Vikki Purton
Musical Director – James Green
Performed at Mirren Theatre, Towngate Basildon on 14th October 2026at: 7.30pm
Basop performed this delightfully spooky and totally seasonally appropriate timed show in the Mirren area at the Towngate Theatre, Basildon. The Addams Family is a romp of hideously ghoulish sentiments inserted into some great music and great dance routines. If the director has enough courage and humour then this will always be a fabulous vehicle for the cast’s talents. Vikki Purton, the director, certainly displayed both of those talents in spades! And the cast entered into the ‘spirit’ with gusto.
The scene was set for us by having to negotiate spiders and cobwebs on our way into the theatre and the set was appropriately gloomy and the stage dimly lit. Howls and ghoulish noises emanated from the sound desk and the cast had a perfect setting to tell us the story of this very odd family (click, click)
The band, under the direction of James Green, had a difficult job squeezing into such a small area, and James had overcome the lack of musicians able to fit in the space by supplementing them with his self-created click tracks and backing tracks. This was such a clever way of producing a great effect and, as ever, the members of the band produced an incredible sound. There really is nothing better than a live band to accompany the action onstage. I must congratulate James on producing such accurate singing from the cast. We think we all know the songs but they are very difficult and intricate to sing and the harmonies along with delightfully sensitive singing was a joy to listen to.
The set was mainly manoeuvred into place by the cast and the only hint we got of the backstage crew was when a disembodied hand twitched the curtains into place or handed the cast a prop. Once again, the set movements were carefully choreographed and ensured the smooth running of the show. Well done Matthew Purton and your crew for establishing such faultless scene changes on your opening night!
We were introduced to the family and their numerous ancestors in the first song, When you’re an Addams. The ancestors had fabulous costumes representing different characters and I must pick out Chloe Holdsworth in her Marie Antoinette outfit. She was so focussed that all eyes were drawn to her when onstage and I can see that she was the dance captain as well. I loved the energy of the all the ancestors and they didn’t miss a beat either in the songs, harmonies or the dance movements. Well done, you all looked fabulously hideous (if you understand what I mean) and entered into everything with enthusiasm. I especially liked the twitching branches in the forest scene
Morticia, played by Charlotte Cavedasca, was superb. What a voice, what attitude and what confidence! She was every inch Morticia and didn’t let the haughty look and sensual posture waiver at all. I loved the song Secrets and Just Around the Corner. Jon Tarbard, as Gomez, wavered a tiny bit at the beginning but when he got into his stride he made a marvellous leading man. He was full of cheeky asides and had a lovely light tenor voice. The chemistry between Morticia and Gomez was very convincing and beautifully portrayed. When those two hit the stage, we knew we were in safe hands. I loved the song Trapped. I think that is when Jon really relaxed into the role. Congratulations to both of you for taking on these very large roles which have to be undertaken with a thorough understanding of the part, not to mention how to wear your spats and cleavage revealing neckline.
As for fabulous voices, the list goes on at BasOp. Cerys Wilkin played one of the best Wednesdays that I have been lucky enough to see. Her voice is fabulous and the intensity of her performance was really great. Her relationship with her little brother, Pugsley, played on this night by Freddie James, was really fun. Wednesdays first song, Pulled, is quite a famous song but Cerys delivered it confidently and with great personality and facial expressions.
Pugsley and Grandma were great scene stealers and Pugsley’s song, What if, was terrific. It was fabulous to see someone so young with so much talent and confidence. I loved your performance, Freddie, and look forward to many more. My apologies to the other Pugsley, Freddie Challis, who was performing on a different night from the one I was watching, but a little bird told me that you are equally as talented. Well done boys, I look forward to seeing you both in action in other shows soon.
Grandma, played by Sarah Drury, almost looked too pretty in the most amazing costume and wig, to be an ancient old crone but this initial impression was soon dispelled when Grandma’s horrible tongue kept flicking around her mouth and she sucked her gums! Well done, Sarah, you brought the house down as ever!
The American family consisted of Mal Beineke, Alice, his wife, and their son Lucas who falls in love with, the frankly weird, Wednesday. Mal, the father was played by Joe Drury. I love watching Joe work onstage. He always gets so comfortably into his part and the American accent as well as the attempt to understand the family around him was masterly. Charlotte Lake, as Alice Beineke, was amazing. Her powerful vocals and her energy and characterisation was tremendous.
The ‘Game’, or Full disclosure song followed by Waiting, is when you let your hair down and you put everything into that scene. I really loved it. Lucas, was played by Alex Wood who adopted a charmingly innocent demeanour and pure love for Wednesday a until we found out he liked dead animals as well. Crazier than You was a great song for you all and the tortuous passage of the arrow was beautifully done. Alex is a great character actor with an equally great voice.
Uncle Fester, played by Scott McFall, was delightfully batty. His song, the Moon and Me, sung surrounded by ancestors, glowing stars and lit umbrellas was really lovely. And I hope he negotiated the flight to the moon successfully…we saw him flying above the set on his journey on the end of a stick!
How could I leave Lurch to the end? Sean de Vrind played the monosyllabic Lurch so well and kept the surprise of his deep singing voice beautifully to the very end. This is such a great part to play and Sean obviously enjoyed every moment.
Sound and light were excellent and well designed. So much so that I forget to listen or look at the sound and light effects and just lost myself in the story which must be the ultimate accolade.
Thank you very much to all at BasOp for a really fun evening and your standing ovation was richly deserved.
Angie McGlashon
NODA East 10
