Move toward the darkness

DA-DA DA DUM (CLICK-CLICK): The opening tune to The Addams Family TV show is as familiar as the bubonic plague-themed nursery rhyme Ring a Ring o' Roses — and now a Musical Theatre Gisborne cast is working on the music for an upcoming production of the popular TV series.Picture from the other side

The song Pulled in the musical The Addams Family points to the gothic humour in the show.

Tortured by love for a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family, princess of darkness Wednesday Addams sings about her pain while torturing her brother on a rack.

The Addams kids are growing up — a nightmare for their parents, Gomez and Morticia. At the heart of the production Musical Theatre Gisborne (MTG) is in rehearsal for, is the terror the family now faces: change.

Pulled is one of several numbers from the show musical director Anna Marie Fenn is teaching cast members.

“The music is challenging. There are a lot of changes in tempo, key and mood, but we have an amazingly talented cast,” says Fenn.

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“A lot of them aren't readers (of music) but they are skilled singers.”

Director Belinda Campbell has returned to Australia since holding auditions for the production but will return to help actors develop their characters and stage skills.

Meanwhile, Fenn and the choreographer are in charge of the show's music and dance routines.

“My role is to get the cast to deliver songs but in a way that is consistent with their characters,” says Fenn.

“A lot of them fell into their characters really well. The show is really funny, there's never a dull moment.”

And while the music might be challenging, the tunes stay with you, says Fenn. If you couldn't get Abba tunes out of your head after seeing MTG's frothily exuberant production, wait till you have seen The Addams Family.

“The songs are so catchy my little girl is sick of them already.”

In their kooky, upside-down world, the Addamses would love the compliment.