AMERICAN cartoonist Charles Addams created the Addams Family back in 1938 and they appeared as a series of comics published right up to their creator’s death in 1988.

The adventures of this Gothic family have also been adapted for acted and animated television series and made into feature films.

The Addams Family smash hit Broadway musical was created in 2010 (book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice – music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa.)

Each Adams family member is not just unique but competes with each other for wackiness.

The storyline for the musical however is a normal one – namely family secrets coming home to roost. However that ‘s where normality ends and the hilarious insanity begins.

Wednesday Addams aka the princess of darkness has fallen in love with a normal, boy from a normal family– a chap her parents have never met.

Wednesday confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before – keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. The scene is set for the fateful night the oddball Addams family host a dinner for the conventional Beinekes.

There is no doubt about it The Addams Family is not the easiest of productions for amateurs to tackle, but the NODA award winning company BMTC (Bournville Musical Theatre Company) not only meet the challenge but excel.

Starting with the Creatives the company have three legends in the power seats – sisters, Chloe Turner who directs and Sadie Lovelady who choreographs plus the maestro Chris Corcoran as musical director. These three have combined to bring professionalism, vision and passion in commanding the very best from this talented troupe.

Simon Lister’s lighting design is glorious in colour and also the stark whites add another dimension to the folk from beyond the grave.

There is a big band line up with reeds, brass, strings, drums and percussion. Live music at its finest from some very talented musicians.

On to the Addams family themselves – John Morrison makes the perfect Daddy Addams as Gomez matched by Lily Moore as his wife and the real family boss Morticia.

The Addams splendidly psychotic daughter is a tour de force from Meg Donovan aided and abetted by Andrew Morrison her masochistic young brother, Pugsley.

Lewis Doley captures the moonstruck Uncle Fester and Viv Morrison makes for a hilarious Grandma.

Stuart McDiamid does well to stay normal as Wednesday’s love interest Lucas Beineke but the same can’t be said for Lisa Colvin as his mother Alice who is sidesplittingly hilarious when she does her ‘I’ve dropped acid’ routine crawling along the dinner table in the ‘Full Disclosure’ number. Phil Snowe makes the most of being sane as her husband Mal Beineke.

Randy Johnson puts in a scene stealing appearances every time he comes on as Lurch the Werewolf Butler. He grunts till near the end then takes the stage by storm with his oh so cavernous Paul Robson booming bass voice.

The hardworking chorus of ghoulish guys and dolls are simply joyous.

They freeze like statues and move like with grace, dignity and dance in perfect harmony.

These aren’t the walking dead they are the wonderful dead.

I was so taken with this production that I am giving it five stars something I have rarely given to any amateur show in my years of reviewing, but it ticks all my boxes, catch it if you can.

The BMTC’s Addams Family runs until Saturday, April 27.