By Alberto Macchione
They are creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky and now the world’s most iconic gothic family comes to life in a hilarious and heartwarming musical comedy.
The Viva Leichhardt Business Alliance welcomed guests to a preview screening of The Addams Family Musical at Leichhardt’s Teatro At The Italian Forum. This unmissable event was attended by Business leaders, educators and notables from the Italian and broader community, including Bottega D’Arte Teatrale’s Santo Crisafulli, Luisa Perugini, GIA (Giovani Italiani in Australia) President Domenico Stefanelli and off-course our very own Allora! presence as guests.
A warm reception was provided by the Theatre Manager and Village Nation Performing Arts who provided the ushers. Opening remarks were provided by new Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director, Nathan M Wright; “I’m hoping to work together to build relationships and community here, to bring the forum back to life, and to really help Norton street come back.”
Inner West local, Nathan, raised an arm for Summer Hill where he resides before expressing his gratitude. “So thank you very much for the amount of support and the kindness of everyone in the area.
We actually live in the inner west, so this has been such an adventure for us. We saw this building last November, and it kind of blew our minds. And we’ve been in the industry our entire lives, and I didn’t even know it existed. So when we came in, it was just like, how do we make this happen? So we have a very ambitious plan for the next few years, and we would like to work with you to make that ambitious plan come to life.
We want to bring The Italian Forum back to life. If the arts are back to life, if we’re bringing in 1100 people a week, we want businesses to open down here and so we can become a united front in the United Community. So we are honoured that you’re here tonight. Lovely Susanna (Montrone, representing Viva Leichardt) has been a wonderful supporter of ours. We’re very grateful. Before the show starts, we just wanted to say, first of all, thank you so much.
Nathan then called to the stage, Viva Leichhardt President, and preeminent speaker, Ilario Ventolini “As President of VIVA Leichardt, it is our pleasure to welcome you to The Forum, the newest [addition to the] cultural landscape. The forum is special because we’re not just watching a wonderful production. We’re witnessing the beginning of an era, of a new era. This beautiful space. I want to take a moment to acknowledge Nathan and Andrew. They’ve opened up a new business with all the stress and things that go with it and open up a new business that brought fresh energy, bold new ideas, and most importantly, new opportunities for us to flourish right here in Leichhardt.”
The production itself is a charming, outrageously funny and heartfelt production that reminds us that all families, no matter how kooky are united by love!
The creatives have outdone themselves in a masterful musical with a brilliant cast and an explosive ensemble that are absolutely unmissable. The seductive Kye Hall, mesmerised as Patriarch Gomez Addams, whilst playing opposite Gomez, is Jessica Parris, who is nothing short of scintillating as the iconic Morticia Addams. Darcy Martin is magnificent as daughter, Wednesday Addams and had fans lined up to meet her after the show.
The surprise stand out was Bridget Mcwhinney who is exceptional in the role of Grandma Addams. This is a performer whose trajectory is bound to be so steep it will break earth’s atmosphere!
Speaking of breaking the atmosphere, it was the character of Uncle Fester played by Julian Seguna who is literally and figuratively ‘out of this world’ at times, who had young audiences rolling in the aisles. (Photos: E. Esposito)
