The Addams Family

One of the more anticipated new shows, of the Broadway season, opens on April 8 (my birthday, coincidentally).  I got an early birthday surprise in getting tickets to go see the next to last preview!  What I saw was a show that, while far from perfect, had a great cast and a ton of fun!  That show, of course, is The Addams Family.

The musical is based on characters created by Charles Addams, in single-panel cartoons, for The New Yorker which began in 1938.  It depicted a ghoulish American family with tastes that leaned toward the dark side.  Over the years, several film and television adaptations have been created but the musical sticks with the original cartoon.  The music and lyrics are written by Andrew Lippa and the book is from Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice.

Plotwise, the show is pretty basic.  Wednesday (Krysta Rodriguez), who is now eighteen, has fallen in love with a normal boy, Lucas Beineke (Wesley Taylor).  He and his parents are coming to the Addams' home so that they may all meet and get to know each other.  Wednesday pleads with her family to be "normal" so as not to embarass her.  The meeting, of course, changes both families forever.  Like I said, pretty basic plot and extremely familiar to that of another, more established (and better) show opening this season, La Cage Aux Folles.

The music is a fairly traditional show score with a bit of a Latin twist.  Complete with an actual overture (which seems to be rare in new shows, these days) that includes that familiar "da da da dum, snap snap",  there's nothing groundbreaking to be heard here but it all does its best to fit the style of the show.  And in that, the music serves its purpose.   

Listed in the Playbill as co-directors/designers, Philem McDermott and Julian Crouch have created a set that, while huge, is a great representation of the Addams home and moves pretty seamlessly throughout the show's set changes.  Even the old fashioned "pull back" curtain was used nicely as part of the set.

In my opinion, the best thing this show has going for it is the cast.  This is also one of the shows biggest issues.  There are so many great names, on the stage, that fans going to see anyone in particular  may feel a bit short changed.

There is one actor who does get plenty of stage time and that's would be Nathan Lane.  He is clearly THE star amongst this cast and carries the bulk of the show.  This is definitely a role for an actor such as him.  He's got the comic timing to make you chuckle at even some of the clunkier jokes in the Book.  

Taking on the role of Morticia is, of course, Bebe Neuwirth.  She's really underused in the first act and I found myself really wanting to see her given something to do.  Luckily, she's given more of the spotlight in act two.  She plays Morticia as beautiful, morose and monotone... perfect for the character.  

Speaking of being underused, Kevin Chamberlain and Jackie Hoffman as Uncle Fester and Grandma Addams, are both very funny throughout the entire show.  Unfortunately, Hoffman is hardly used at all but manages to land every joke she's been given.  Chamberlain, at least, gets his own song.  It's a love song to the moon which is silly but staged in a really cool way and he makes the most of it.

As the "normal" Beineke parents, Carolee Carmello and Terrence Mann, do the best they can with the little they're given.  Carmello, particularly, is given her own number towards the end of act one to show off her amazing pipes but, it's really not necessary.  Both characters go through the requisite "life changes" but, I think, it makes them less interesting.  

Like I said before, there's nothing about this show that is particularly ground breaking.  But, I still had a great time watching it.  The fact that I wanted to see almost everyone more, gives big credit to the great cast that they've got here.  I really think that it's what makes the show work.  Unfortunately, I'm not sure how it's gonna hold up when they leave.  

But, there are some shows that you shouldn't go in to expecting game changing theater. Just going to have a good time is worth it sometimes and, I think, this show definitely gives you the good time without having to make you think too much.  That's not always a bad thing.

Until next time...