Covid dramas fail to keep Addams Family off stage

Understudies have come to the rescue of the South Canterbury Drama League’s latest production, meaning practices and rehearsals could still be held.

The drama league’s marketing coordinator Jill de Joux said the league has never used understudies like they have this year in the build up to tomorrow’s opening night for The Addams Family.

‘‘Having enough talented performers to have understudies isn’t something we have done before, but it proved to be a good decision because we have utilised them throughout the practices and rehearsals as Covid and flu seasons took over some cast members,’’ de Joux said.

‘‘The understudies have to be just as good as the lead because if the lead is unable to perform they will be up there.’’

De Joux said the cast has been working hard, with rehearsals every night for the past 10 days, although due to sickness they have not had many full cast rehearsals, but thanks to understudies they have managed.

‘‘We have been rehearsing since May, and since then we have battled constant sickness and Timaru did reach a peak with Covid, but we are really excited to be at the point of opening.’’

Ticket sales for the 12 shows over the next three weeks are going well with one sold out and many filling up, de Joux said.

‘‘It is really good to see people buying their tickets early, because people are not holding off to see what Covid will be like

. . . fingers crossed ticket sales are good.’’

De Joux said The Addams Family will provide a lot of laughs, and it might be hard for friends and family to recognise the cast as ‘‘the makeup is amazing, and some people looks unrecognisable’’.

‘‘It is a very wholesome play and there is some great comedic timing and physical comedy.

‘‘There are always a lot of laughs and a lot of chuckling during rehearsals,’’ de Joux said.

The play will be loved by people whether they have watched the Addams Family movies or not, as the musical shows Gomez coming to terms with his daughter Wednesday Addams bringing home her ‘‘normal’’ boyfriend, De Joux said.

‘‘One of the many great cast stories is that the people who play lead roles of Gomez and Morticia Addams, Cam Sutcliffe and Victoria Chappell, are a real life couple, and this will be their biggest roles yet.’’.