Addams Family, Brewery Arts Centre

THE biggest compliment I could pay the cast and crew of Kendal College's The Addams Family is that the whole show would hold its own in any major theatre in the land - such was the sheer quality of performance.

Although its has a great score and well structured storyline, for me the musical's strength lies not in its 'happenings' but in its characters, wonderful parts for any actor to get his or her teeth into.

It was a terrific choice by director Hilary Pezet to stage the hit musical which proved a perfect vehicle for her talented students who had a field day.

The story is set at the Addams family mansion in New York's Central Park and based around Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, who has fallen in love with Lucas, a 'normal' young man from a respectable family. A man her parents have never met. She confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother putting Gomez in a real fix - he's never kept a secret from the love of his life, his wife, Morticia.

Everything hangs on the night the Addams host a dinner for Lucas's mum and dad.

The broad range of characters paved the way for some truly staggering individual performances, the band did a sterling job with the music and the clever set was the web into which the family's weirdly wonderful world was woven.

David Lowe as Uncle Fester, Haydn Whitehead playing Lurch, and Daniel Blundell as Grandma were brilliant and showed great promise as actors.

Fraser Wright, Connie Svatins and James Lowis, as the Beineke family were also outstanding in their respective roles.

Emily Baxter looked truly at home as Wednesday Addams. She has a high level of music theatre skills and that wonderful gift of being able to sing, dance and act so naturally. And sporting a broken arm as Wednesday's sibling Pugsley, Jade Mcguire, yet another young talent whose theatrical star in definitely on the ascent.

As Gomez, Elliot Baxter showed what a really polished performer he is, grasping his character's Spanish American accent and never letting go, even when singing. He captured Gomez's optimism and subtle cunning perfectly, and as an actor should go on to achieve great things.

Bonny Dinsdale as Morticia was totally mesmerising. Her command of her character, dancing ability and voice was the best I've ever seen at that level and she undoubtedly has the ability to be a future leading lady.

For me she was phenomenal. Even down to her hand gestures. And her expertly choreographed tango sequence with Elliot provided a standout moment.

The whole cast managed the quick fire dialogue superbly, with many comic moments and cracking one-liners: "If you want to be a tool go sleep in the shed."

Adrian Mullen