By Ely King (freelance – ‘Dress Circle Antics’ and ‘Fairy Powered Productions’)
Questions for Kara Lane playing Alice Beineke and Kingsley Morton playing Wednesday Addams
Tell us about Alice, who is she to The Addams Family, friend or foe?
Kara: Alice is the mother of Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend Lucas. She’s not entirely sure about the family at first but, without giving too much away, she’s definitely a friend by the end! The Addams family have a very big impact on Alice’s life in the space of 1 evening – she goes on a pretty big journey throughout the show.
How does it feel to be playing such a famous character?
Kingsley: I love The Addams Family and have since I was young, and because of that taking on Wednesday was actually very exciting! She’s also such a different character from most other musicals, so to get the chance to play her is an absolute dream!
Do you see yourself in any parts of Wednesday’s persona?
Kingsley: I definitely do! Every time I told someone (whether they were in musical theatre or not) that I was going to be in the show they’d guess straight away who I was going to play. I remember the cast asking a few times in rehearsals if I was dressing up as the character, when it was just my usual clothes! I really can relate to her personality-wise as well, her toughness and how she never apologises for being in the room or taking up the space she needs – it definitely took me longer than Wednesday to find that in myself, though!
Tell us about your Wednesday, what’s she like?
Kingsley: In the show Wednesday has actually grown up, she’s now a teenager and she has become the complete balance of Gomez and Morticia as their daughter. This is the part we really wanted to show, because, even if you are seen as a weirdo or an outcast to the outside world, you still deserve to find love. Wednesday just so happens to have found love with an almost completely normal, slightly awkward/geeky boy named Lucas! She has a lot more of Gomez’s character traits in her in our version than in the film/TV show, she has his impulsiveness and energy, but she is most definitely her mother’s daughter – which leads to a lot of clashes between the two throughout.
What is it like being involved in such an iconic show as The Addams Family?
Kingsley: It’s just brilliant! So many people have come to the show dressed up as the Addams-it makes our hearts full of joy when we see it! The Addams Family have always been easily accessible for all ages, and you can really tell from the audiences’ reactions that that is still true with this version, which is awesome.
Kara: I grew up watching the 60s TV program with my mum and grandma who were both fans so it’s pretty close to my heart and with anything that’s special to somebody I tend to be a bit biased towards the characters I grew up watching. However, I personally think the actors playing the Addams family members are perfectly cast and really find the essence of the characters without impersonating the originals. They bring something fresh to their roles while still keeping everything we love about the kooky clan. Our director Matthew White encouraged us to do research into the original Charles Addams cartoons from the 1930s so we were able to bring some of those elements into the show as well. For example, most of The Addams Family drawings were black and white, but there were later drawings that Charles Addams did in colour. I like to think that the colourful costumes that Alice’s family wear (the Beineke’s) were inspired by these later drawings.
I love being a part of something that is so iconic and so much fun.
Do you have a favourite character other than your own? If so, why?
Kara: Oh! That’s a hard one! I love all the characters for all their individual moments they bring to the show. If I was forced to pick a favourite it might have to be Grandma. She’s so naughty!
Kingsley: If I had to pick a favourite character other than Wednesday I definitely think it would be Alice! The contrast between the character in the first half and the second is just brilliant and looks like so much fun! When we were setting Waiting (Alice’s song) in rehearsals the direction was for us all to just be watching Alice in shock/awe for the whole song and it requires very little acting, because that is exactly what we all feel watching Kara Lane knock that number out of the park every show!
What is the best part about being in a touring production? (ie. sightseeing, travelling etc.)
Kingsley: The best part of being on a touring production so far is actually touring with the cast! We’ve become like one big kooky family ourselves, and I think that bond and closeness actually shows a lot on stage. I’ve not travelled the UK much before at all – in fact, I don’t think I’ve visited any of the places we’re going on the tour in my life so getting to see all these new places for a week at a time has been very special!
Kara: Honestly, just being back on stage is the absolute highlight for me. Especially after 18 months of waiting for this show to start. The show has been postponed 8 times since the pandemic started and I consider myself extremely lucky to be in a show that’s survived this long so I’m savouring every moment. When I’m not on stage I do enjoy getting to know whichever city we happen to be in.
What is your favourite part of the entire show?
Kingsley: My favourite part of the show has to be Happy/Sad. It’s such a beautiful song, and I think it’s definitely the tie back moment where we see Wednesday almost regress back to being that famous, lonely, gloomy little girl again as her father sings to her, which is great. And the way Cameron Blakely performs the song every time is just magical, I get to see the audience for a lot of it while they’re watching him and they’re always absolutely entranced to the very last note.
Kara: The end of act 1… but I can’t say anymore than that.
I also love the tango that Morticia, Gomez and the Ancestors do towards the end of the show. It’s a showstopper! Oh, and Uncle Fester’s love song to the moon, it’s simply beautiful.
How would you describe the show? How would you sell it to me?
Kara: It’s fun, silly, witty and a great form of escapism for all the family.
Kingsley: Whether you’ve watched The Addams Family before or not, the show is such brilliant fun for all ages. I truly believe it’s just what the country needs right now. It’s all about family, embracing all parts of yourself – especially your darkness – and accepting others for who they are, it’s funny, the music is incredible and the set and costumes are absolutely divine! What more could you need?!
You have a prolific Tik Tok presence, how did you get started on Tik Tok?
Kara: I joined TikTok during lockdown to see what all the fuss was about. I had no interest in it for ages but actually, I’ve always enjoyed editing videos so it just made sense to join the social media platform that is all about videos! I had about 4 followers when I posted a silly video that went viral. There was no turning back then, ha ha!
What advice would you give anyone trying to break into the industry?
Kingsley: I’ve only just started myself really! I would say: don’t let anyone tell you what you can and can’t do. I’ve faced it a lot, especially as a plus sized actress, but here I am playing the romantic lead! So no one knows what you can and can’t do, even you! Never be afraid to go outside of your comfort zone, you might surprise yourself.
Kara: Immerse yourself in the arts! Don’t just watch YouTube and streamed shows (although how wonderful were they to have during lockdown or if you’re unable to see the performance live?!). Try to see as many live shows as possible because it’s an experience that can’t be replicated on a screen. Work hard and if you’re given an opportunity to audition or perform, don’t take it for granted. Go to singing lessons, dance lessons, drama lessons, choir. Partake in local productions and school shows. My parents were not well-off by any stretch of the imagination but when they could find the money they let me go to private lessons and when they couldn’t I just involved myself in everything and anything that was free or inexpensive. If you want it you will find a way to make it work. Even just finding like-minded friends who you could read lines, make up plays or just be creative with is still a way of learning.
Why do you think it’s important people come back to the theatre?
Kara: The theatres are doing everything they can possibly do to keep even their most vulnerable patrons safe during these times. I just hope that people start trusting in them and start booking tickets again soon the way they used to before the pandemic. A massive thank you to everyone who has already started to come back, it’s you who’s saving the arts at the moment.
Kingsley: It’s so important that people come back to the theatre! It’s escapism from the world we’re all facing at the moment! And theatres are currently safer than your local supermarket with the precautions they’re all taking. Theatres really need everyone’s support right now, or you might find that – when you do try to come to the theatre in a while – they’re not there anymore, which would be an absolute tragedy!
Have you been to Birmingham / The Alexandra theatre before?
Kingsley: No, this is my first UK tour so I’m super excited to play at The Alexandra and see Birmingham.
Kara: Yes, quite a lot actually. The first 2 professional shows I ever did both opened in Birmingham (JCS at the Hippodrome and Scrooge at The Alexandra) and I have been back numerous times since. I love both theatres for different reasons and also love Birmingham! I think The Alexandra is the perfect theatre to host The Addams Family as it has a sense of history from the moment you walk through the doors. I’m looking forward to returning.