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Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Young 'Uns make frighteningly good job of The Addams Family


* The memorable dinner scene at the end of act 1.


* Gomez and Morticia take centre stage flanked by Lurch (left) and Uncle Fester.


* Wonderful Wednesday.

Llangollen Operatic Society’s Young ‘Uns have made a frighteningly good job of The Addams Family, a musical tale of the everyday life of a ghoulish American family.

Thanks to its fabulous costumes and chillingly atmospheric setting, the whole scary spectacle they will be staging at Llangollen Town Hall from this Thursday to Saturday takes on a dreamlike – or should that be nightmare? – quality.

Add to this some superb performances pitched, in both acting and singing respects, well above their ages the 27-strong cast from the society’s junior section have created something of a Llangollen masterpiece.  

The Addams Family is a musical comedy with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice.

The show is based on The Addams Family characters created by Charles Addams and tells the story of a creepy clan with a taste for all things macabre. 

At the head of the family are the frightening Gomez Addams and his haughty wife Morticia, recreated respectively by the highly talented Ethan Le Cheminant – sadly making his final Young ‘Uns appearance before heading off to uni to study maths – and the devilishly divine Heledd Edwards.

Living alongside them in their musty dungeon of a mansion are their children, the teenage girl Wednesday and younger lad Pugsley, both with a wholly unnatural fondness for the darker side.

Katy Clark as Wednesday has a staggeringly good voice capable of waking the dead whenever she lets it rip and Dylan Harrison brings a cooky cuteness to the role of Pugsley.

Other occultist occupants of Chez Addams are Ethan Roberts who, thanks to his ingenious bald wig and capacity for sheer on-stage vitality, makes for a memorable Uncle Fester, and Gracie Broadbent as the Grandma of the family. She brings a hard-edged, hard-bitten American style to the part which at times is shockingly effective.

Helping out around the house is butler Lurch, a man who if he isn’t actually one of the undead one suspects would help them out in a crisis. He’s been perfectly packaged and presented by Sam Gonzalez Jones.

The story centres around the affect meeting a “normal” young man has on Wednesday.

Will the blossoming affair with Lucas, who is well played by Freya Mortimer, turn Wednesday normal too or will she stay the kind of gal who likes nothing better than a bit of crossbow practice in her spare time?

We shall see as the plot develops, introducing as it does a hair-raising visit to the Addams’ place by Lucas’s parents Mal and Alice, skilfully portrayed by Will Robinson and Leri Roberts.

All the principal characters, whose efforts are well supported by a live nine-piece band, are brilliant.

But what takes this production to a whole new level for the Young ‘Uns is the dazzling support they receive from a supporting cast portraying the family’s dead ancestors, some harking back to ancient times.

Their costumes, which are simply gobsmacking, are perfectly toned in with the settings and enhanced by some intelligent lighting. All this can be seen to stunning best effect in the dinner scene at the end of the first act which takes on the look of a classical religious painting.

To be commended for putting all this together in such a stylish way are co-artistic directors Robin Crowley and Jo Lloyd, producer Pamela Williams, assistant producer Dee Smith and musical director Julian Cattley.

You can see the show for yourself at the Town Hall from this Thursday to Saturday. Performances start at 7.30pm except the Saturday matinee which begins at 2pm.    

* Tickets for the Addams Family, which are selling quickly, are available online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollenoperaticsociety and also from Jades, Oggies and the Tourist Information Centre at £12 and £10.

* Maybe an unkind cut for little Pugsley.


* Uncle Fester presents some bald talent.


* The butler Lurches in.


* Grandma instructs Pugsley on her potions.


* The potential in-laws come to call. Lucas is on the right.


* The ancestors get in on the act.

Railway highlights its volunteering opportunities

* Repairing  a 60-year old Class 26 locomotive’s traction motors (above) to dressing up as elves to help Santa for Christmas (below) are some of the volunteering opportunities on offer. 


Llangollen Railway will be launching new volunteer recruitment activities throughout this year.

It will also be hosting an inaugural open day on Saturday February 25 with the aim of showcasing volunteer opportunities across all areas of the railway.

A railway spokesperson said: "We have ambitious plans for 2023, with our brand new station in Corwen opening, a busy schedule of trains to run, a lot of improvement work scheduled on our track and infrastructure, teas, sandwiches and delicious cakes to make and serve, gardens to plant and tidy, stations to paint and popular special events like our Classic Transport weekend to run. 

"We also welcome people who would be interested in supporting the Business, Governance and Board management side of the railway. It’s a challenging but amazing time for us.

The spokesperson added: "Whatever you’re interested in doing, if you can spare any time, we will be taking you up on it.

"Of course, we welcome people with prior experience, transferable skills or specialist technical knowledge, but that is not vital. Enthusiasm, interest and commitment are far more important. 

"No prior knowledge, experience or skills are necessary for getting involved as a volunteer – in fact we actively encourage people to try something new or different from their day job – that’s what volunteering is all about. Whatever you may choose to have a go at, full training is provided, whether you’re looking after our passengers as they arrive or helping to rebuild a 90 year old steam locomotive.

"There really is something for everyone in the volunteering experience – be it front-of-house, back-of-house, somewhere in-between or a bit of everything.

"Many volunteers get involved in several different things - you’re not expected to stick to one job. You may see someone dressed as an elf at Christmas who is then getting stuck in to repairing the track. Whatever you want to try your hand at the only real requirement is to be safe and trained to do it - and be willing to get stuck in."

The railway says places are limited so potential volunteers are being encouraged to register as soon as possible by emailing vlo@llangollen-railway.co.uk or telephoning 01978 860979 during office hours.

Monday, February 13, 2023

Report on incident involving pedestrian in Queen Street this morning

The Denbighshire Free Press online has reported on an incident involving a pedestrian in Llangollen this morning (Monday).

* For the full story, see: https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/23317829.incident-involving-pedestrian-lorry-llangollen/


Local appeal for supplies for Turkey earthquake zone continues


* The lorry carrying supplies for Turkey leaves Llangollen on Saturday.

As one convoy of vital supplies leaves Llangollen bound for the earthquake zone of Turkey, a fresh appeal for donations for the victims of the disaster is underway in the town.

Well-known local community champion Cat Meade says she and the Llangollen Support Group are now working with UareUK - United to Assist Refugees UK (Refugees North Wales and Overseas) and can therefore take further clothes donations.

Particularly needed are those for children, men and women, including socks, underwear and also toiletries.

Donations can be dropped at Wingetts in Castle Street, Llangollen until February 27, says Cat.

On Saturday Huseyin Duyar, manager of the Deeside Cafe in Castle Street, drove to Manchester with a truckload of clothing for Turkey. From there it was to be transferred to a larger lorry which would take it on to the devastated quake zone in Kahramanmaras, south-eastern Turkey, near the Syrian border.     

Huseyin is originally from the city of Diyarbakir which is only about half an hour’s drive from the epicentre of quake. 

Tens of thousands of people are thought to have been killed and thousands others injured in the disaster which has left many people homeless and in dire need of assistance of all kinds. 

Donations for his appeal came flooding in from the local community and even from as far away as Holyhead. 

Next Sunday Huseyin and three friends will be flying out to Turkey from Manchester Airport taking more supplies with them, paying for excess baggage.  

They will remain in the country for about five days, staying with friends, and are ready to help distribute the supplies to the affected areas if asked to do so. 

St David's Market planned for March 4

 


On Saturday March 4 the Inner Wheel Club of Llangollen in collaboration with Tenovus and the Town Hall are holding a fair to celebrate St David's Day. 

Sunday, February 12, 2023

Exhibition in town explores being homeless

An exhibition on being homeless is being staged at Llangollen's Dory Gallery in Regent Street until March 19.

It combines images from The Salvation Army International Heritage Centre’s photographic archives and photographic artist, Tony Mallon’s project, Homeless. 

This moved beyond the human presence to explore and examine the spaces and experience of living in homeless hostels in Merseyside. 

Homeless was exhibited in 2015 as part of LOOK/15, Liverpool’s international photography festival at the Unseen Photo Festival, Amsterdam. 

The project was supported using public funding by Arts Council England and The National Lottery. 

This is the second time this work has been displayed together, the other being at The Salvation Army’s William Booth College, London in 2018.

Dory Gallery opening times are 10am - 4pm Saturday and Sunday only. The gallery will be closed on February 25 and 26. 


Latest local roadworks notified by county council

Latest local roadworks notified by Denbighshire County Council are:

O/S TOWER FARM COTTAGE TOWER ROAD 14/02/2023 16/02/2023 Gwaith Nwy / Gas Works WALES & WEST (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

OUTSIDE NUMBER 2, QUINTA BIRCH HILL 20/02/2023 22/02/2023 Gwaith Dwr / Water Works HAFREN DYFRDWY (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

A539 MILL STREET 27/02/2023 01/03/2023 NMWTRA Traffig Dros Dro/ Temp Traffic Lights 21:00 - 06:00

A539 Outside 5 CHURCH STREET 20/02/2023 22/02/2023 Gwaith Trydanol / Electrical Works QUARTZELEC (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

OUTSIDE 6 GREENFIELD 27/02/2023 27/02/2023 Adferiad/ Reinstatement O'CONNOR UTILITIES (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

Nr GLASFRYN ABBEY ROAD 20/02/2023 22/02/2023 Gwaith Dwr / Water Works HAFREN DYFRDWY LLANGOLLEN

From Dee Cottage to Bishop's Walk MILL STREET 03/03/2023 05/03/2023 Torri Coed / Tree Cutting SHIFT TRAFFIC EVENTS LTD. LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

A539 Hall Street Llangollen HALL STREET 09/01/2023 17/02/2023 Gwaith Gwelliant/ Improvement Works DCC WORKS UNIT Parking Suspension Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

Chapel Street CHAPEL STREET 09/01/2023 17/02/2023 Gwaith Gwelliant/ Improvement Works DCC WORKS UNIT Un Ffordd/ One Way

MILL ST CAR PARK MILL STREET 24/02/2023 24/02/2023 Gwaith Carthffosiaeth/ Sewer Works MORRISON UTILITY Traffig Dros Dro/ Temp Traffic Lights

Former Llangollen Railway Footpath A539 LLANGOLLEN ROAD 23/02/2023 23/02/2023 Torri Coed / Tree Cutting KTL CONTRACTING LTD LLANGOLLEN

A539 Wrth / Nr Haulwen ABBEY ROAD 02/03/2023 02/03/2023 Gwaith Carthffosiaeth/ Sewer Works ALUN GRIFFITHS LLANGOLLEN