The Addams Family represents the last show in an epic marathon of shows, conceived and developed throughout the last two years, disrupted by Covid. A period of time that has tested every inch of my professional competence and my personal resilience. On reflection, it has been without doubt the most challenging time of my career.
Despite the challenge, the adult session and The Addams Family production has actually been one of my favourite of the year, and I thought I would devote this piece to attempt to explain why I believe that is.
As a youth theatre practitioner, and a father of three young boys, I spend a lot of my time in the company of young people. For the most part this is exciting and interesting and I think the thing that keeps me in touch with the ever changing landscape of society. Our discussions range from our favourite Paw Patrol pup to preferred pronouns and I always feel very lucky to be at the cutting edge of my children’s and my students lives.
Sometimes, however it is important to be surrounded by your own kind. Not saying that children and young people are in someway a different species, but they kind of are. The challenges they faced during the last two years are quite different to the challenges that we as adults/parents faced. Our young people struggle to empathise with us, it’s not their fault, it’s just a fact; but sometimes we just need someone to appreciate that although we are not clinically depressed, we are in fact still struggling.
Although I am the director of the show and in charge of who is who and what is what; I have felt just like another adult, another parent surrounded by people who….get it. People who have been through similar struggles, juggling parenting with work, with life, and with the complete shit show that was, and still is, Covid-19. But this group of adults have not come together to moan or to complain about the incompetencies of government or whether 5G is an elaborate plan to control our minds. They have come together to produce something remarkable from a truly remarkable time in our lives.
I was only 5 pages into the read through for this show and I knew it was going to be one of my favourite shows ever. Cleverly crafted situation comedy, with brilliant songs. An eclectic mix of individuals held together by a strong set of family values. All flawed in their own unique way but yet all seem to compliment each other perfectly.
I think this is the reason why it has been one of my favourite shows of the year. I think the Addams Family represents the Artz Family at a time when I really needed it.