Central Hall Music Society returns to the stage this week for a spooky performance of the hit musical The Addams Family (queue iconic theme song). The ghoulish musical experience follows one infamously creepy family with an “affinity for all things macabre” as a powerhouse of CHMS cast members step into these iconic roles for their final show of the academic year.
Vision spoke to the director Darcey Chambers about all the artistic ventures that went into the creation of this creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky musical extravaganza.
How have you found the process of creating The Addams Family?
It’s certainly been a challenge, we’ve had such a short time to put on such a complicated show, it’s possibly one of the quickest turnarounds for any CHMS show (apart from the 24 hour musical!), but I’ve been so lucky to have an amazing cast which makes everything so much easier. It’s been so incredible to see the development in all of the cast, in terms of confidence and characterisation and it’s so rewarding as a director to see them begin to really inhabit their characters and lose their inhibitions.
I feel like a proud mum whenever I see them perform, and I hope everyone enjoys the show as much as I do.
How does the show compare to your previous work?
This is the first big musical I’ve ever directed, which is so exciting! I’ve previously only directed dramas, or smaller excerpts from musicals, so this has been a really interesting challenge for me. In the past I have always been on stage as a performer in musicals, and was lucky enough to play Liz in Sunshine on Leith for CHMS, but with The Addams Family I’ve loved having the chance to watch my own creative vision come to life, and to work with actors infinitely more talented than me!
Do you have a favourite moment in the show, something audiences should keep an eye out for?
Oh it’s so hard to pick just one moment, especially without spoiling some of the really funny sections! ‘Full Disclosure’ is an amazing number, and ‘Not Today’ will always have a special place in my heart. In general, however, I’d just say to expect the unexpected: one moment you’ll be tense, then laughing, then almost crying!
Expect the unexpected: one moment you’ll be tense, then laughing, then almost crying!
Why should everyone come and watch the exciting new production?
Everything else aside, the cast and prod team have all worked so hard to make this incredible show come to life, and we’d love to show it off to as many people as possible!
It’s such an immersive experience and would be a wonderful way for anyone to celebrate the end of the academic year, or just to provide a great night of entertainment. You’ll definitely leave the theatre with a smile on your face.
Central Hall Musical Society’s Summer show certainly sounds like a fabulous end of year outing for everyone, from both theatre fans among us to those passionate Wednesday Addams fans still rewatching her debut Netflix outing and that iconic dance routine.
For a spine-chilling, finger-snapping, toe-tapping, ghoulish good time look no further than The Addams Family, playing at Greg’s Place this weekend, June 15th -17th.
Tickets are available on the YUSU website – https://yusu.org/events/id/2564-chms-presents-the-addams-family- and via the linktree in the CHMS Instagram bio: @chmstheaddamsfamily