The Addams Family - The Lowry

LES Dennis is a revelation in The Addams Family, the musical version of the classic TV show.

Dennis plays Uncle Fester, arguably the craziest of a very crazy clan and is totally unrecognisable, both in appearance, sporting Uncle F's trademark bald head, and in demeanour.

Previously I'd only ever thought of him as that nice, smiley Scouser who presented Family Fortunes. But I'm sure I'm not the only one who'll look on him in a completely different light after this.

This show is obviously aimed at a family audience and while the family of the title look like they've stepped out of a horror movie, I'd have no bones about bringing children to see this. The spookiness is very much at the "trick or treat" level and a pinch of slightly saucy humour, which the kids won't get, ensures big kids like me didn't feel left out.

Wednesday (Carrie Hope Fletcher) has fallen for Lucas (Oliver Ormson) and there's talk of marriage in the air. The serial sadist invites her unsuspecting beau and his prim and proper parents to a meal at the family's crypt of a home. What could possibly go wrong?

Andrew Lippa's score, by turns inspired and forgettable in places, certainly captures the jet black humour of the original and the cast don't fall into the trap of trying to mimic their TV counterparts. Cameron Blakely is for example a far more camp Gomez, Wednesday's dad whose favourite hobby is collecting instruments of torture and Samantha Womack infuses the role of Morticia.

Most of the laughs come in the first act, with the second spending too much time on the relationships of the characters. Both Gomez and Morticia and Mal and Alice are experiencing marital problems, while Wednesday and Lucas go through the ups and downs of young love.

Great spooky fun, for all the family. It probably helps if you know the original.

* Until September 9. The box office is on 0843 208 6000 or book online at www.thelowry.com.