ADDAMS FAMILY Reviews- Page 7

[kidbroadway2]

Posted: 4/9/10 at 4:32pm

i saw the show and it was VERY accurate to the reviews. The Bloomberg critic is off his rocker if he thinks it was good.

[blaxx]

Posted: 4/9/10 at 5:15pm

Why? Because you would lose record of posting all of the ****ty reviews. True, there haven't been many (very few), but I still find that hillarious.

I was collecting the reviews because no one else was. I'm no psychic, I didn't know they were going to be bad. I did it for future record, as I have with many other shows throughout the years and I would've done it whatever the outcome.

And yes, it took effort and it would upset me for the thread to be deleted just because someone decided to post the full review when such thing is illegal.

averagebwaynut - I'm certainly against franchises and the idea of imposing these to a Broadway musical, as we have discussed before, but I don't have anything against this production nor I wish it bad.

I don't hate it, nor I take "pleasure in trashing it" - it's not like I wrote the reviews. Please, point out any of my comments where I "trash" the quality of this specific production (and not franchise musicals) and I will remove them and apologize.

[averagebwaynut]

Posted: 4/9/10 at 5:18pm

Kid -- understood. And many/most on this board would agree with you, even if I do not.

Nevertheless, if Blaxx hasn't seen the show, it's odd (and to me, at least, wrong) for him/her to be among those leading the revels in its demise.

[blaxx]

Posted: 4/9/10 at 5:24pm

Nevertheless, if Blaxx hasn't seen the show, it's odd (and to me, at least, wrong) for him/her to be among those leading the revels in its demise.

Now you're being infantile. At least answer my last post before going at it again. I'm not leading any crusade against any show, please. You have yet to point out a single comment where I talk about the quality of this production.

[Calvin]

Posted: 4/9/10 at 5:28pm

Not sure if this has been posted yet, but a rave from...John Simon???

"The Addams Family," headed by Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth, is a glitzy-gloomy musical in which the quick and the dead are equally full of character, especially the chorus of ancestors that exhibits wonderful esprit de corpse.

It's entirely worthy of the macabre drawings by Charles Addams, which once were a mainstay of the New Yorker magazine. You may have seen them adapted to large and little screens, but you’ll conclude that the stage was their destiny.



Full review Updated On: 4/9/10 at 05:28 PM

[averagebwaynut]

Posted: 4/9/10 at 5:41pm

Blaxx --

On March 10, you wrote:

I haven't seen the show, but after reading all these posts, I'm still sure that this show was never created because someone had a top-notch creative vision of musicalizing The Addams Family and give it a crafted theatrical approach that belonged nowhere but on the stage.

Instead, it all still sounds to me as a group of producers who thought of a (dusty) franchise, then imposed a script, a score, and a couple of B (roadway) celebrities to it in the hopes to make it a new money-making hit.

Lame.

That sounds an awful lot to me like trashing the producers of the show for their supposed motivation -- which you cannot possibly know with any certainty -- for creating a show which you cannot properly evaluate because you haven't seen it.

Sure, you can argue that you're only trashing the concept of a franchise musical. But you're doing so in the context of "The Addams Family" without having the first-hand evidence to support your argument. Absent that, it comes off as trashing, whether it's intended or not.

Later in that same day, you even acknowledged my point:

You are right by saying I have no right to write about it if I haven't seen it...

...yet you went on to write more and more, continuing to assert your thesis about the motivations of the producers and creative team in bringing the show to Broadway, continuing to assert that there is no artistry in the execution of the creative concept despite your admitted inability to make such an evaluation for yourself. It's as if you've decided "franchise musicals = bad" and since so many on this board happen to find tremendous fault with the show and that supports your thesis, you've simply jumped on the bandwagon.

Understand, as I've said, that I'm certain you will hate the show. But until you've seen it, your right to be so negative about the show is unearned. It's still your right, to be sure, but I could respect your use of it so much more if you were at least commenting on what you truly knew rather than only what you had heard and/or what you want to believe.

Plus if/when you see the show and loathe it as much as you are sure to, no doubt the scores of others in the same camp will delight in your excoriation of the show at such time. And even if I disagree, that's bound to be entertaining reading. :)

[lulu10]

Posted: 4/9/10 at 5:43pm

The two major Chicago critics posted their reviews of the Broadway show today. (in comparison with the Chicago production) I, for one, really enjoyed the show when I saw it both in Chicago and on Broadway. Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion, but I think that a good portion of the critics (particularly Ben Brantley) have been overly harsh.

http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/the_theater_loop/2010/04/addams-family-broadway-musical-review-nathan-lane-bebe-neuwirth.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+chicagotribune%2Fthetheaterloop+%28Chicago+Tribune+-+The+Theater+Loop%29

http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/weiss/2148591,CST-FTR-Weiss09.article

[averagebwaynut]

Posted: 4/9/10 at 5:51pm

Blaxx --

P.S. Thanks for the "infantile" crack, but as you'll note, my comment was addressed to "KidBroadway2" and it was apparently written and posted concurrent with you writing and posting (note the time stamps only 3 minutes apart). I saw your response only after I had written my posting to KidBroadway. I was not piling on or "going at it again" before answering you, as I was entirely unaware you had responded at all (and wasn't even talking to you in that post anyway!).

[blaxx]

Posted: 4/9/10 at 5:52pm

Sure, you can argue that you're only trashing the concept of a franchise musical. But you're doing so in the context of "The Addams Family" without having the first-hand evidence to support your argument. Absent that, it comes off as trashing, whether it's intended or not.

Nice to dig out posts from OTHER threads to point out I'm against Addams on this one. You obviously couldn't found anything on this thread, so you had to go back, but you are still wrong.

It all is still your opinion. It is your decision to think I write against Addams, when it is the production concept and values (in general, for Broadway franchises and not singling out any show) I disagree with. You want to make it personal, but I won't go at it again, because I have yet to post something regarding the quality of the specific show you so much loved.

And I'm sure I would find a lot of positive aspects in the show, but I don't think it's out of place to agree with critics and other posters regarding franchises on Broadway.

I actually find it offensive that you keep mentioning that I have made any negative comment about the show itself, when I never have.

I am sure that the show has a great amount of positive aspects to it - most Broadway musicals do. But you're being extremist by implying I'm leading an anti-Addams crusade here.

I've collected reviews for shows who got across the board raves, but suspiciously no one accused me of being a shill for it.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 4/9/10 at 6:00pm

Everyone happy? Sure seems like it. Especially Blaxx who just couldn't wait to share the reviews with us. Everyone got their wish: it got trashed.

I feel bad and am very sad. It all seems a little unfairly harsh. Across the board pans? They can not tell me there is not one redeeming quality in the show.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 4/9/10 at 6:03pm

I feel bad that you're so sad. You've been had.

[averagebwaynut]

Posted: 4/9/10 at 6:04pm

Absolutely, I'm going back to other posts. I'm making a case for your attitude towards a show. Not your attitude towards a show in one particular thread. Your attitude towards a show in general. What you've said before is just as relevant to this conversation.

By the way, you're not just agreeing with other posters' comments about franchise musicals in the abstract. You're agreeing, dare I say embracing, their comments about franchise musicals as they relate specifically to the "The Addams Family" in creation and execution (no pun intended). That's my fundamental objection. Hate franchise musicals? Fine. But considering "The Addams Family" to be the embodiment of what you hate about franchise musicals when you haven't even seen the show is ass backwards.

That said, I'm happy to put this argument to bed and I won't continue to pester you about it. You believe you haven't been negative about the show, despite questioning the motivations of those who created it and despite choosing to believe (exclusively, apparently) only those who have had negative things to say about the show -- and all this absent any first-hand, in-person knowledge of the show in performance. To me, that's extremely negative. To others/you, perhaps not.

[gcontini2]

Posted: 4/9/10 at 6:06pm

"They can not tell me there is not one redeeming quality in the show.""

Actually, to be fair, many of the reviews have commended the inventive stagecraft elements of the show...

I would agree....There is an abundance of great lighting, set pieces, and giant puppets...

Updated On: 4/9/10 at 06:06 PM

[blaxx]

Posted: 4/9/10 at 6:19pm

That said, I'm happy to put this argument to bed and I won't continue to pester you about it.

Thank you, love.

I know you you haven't been around as long, but after almost six years of posting here regularly, you would know I wouldn't beat around trashing a show. I would just do it.

I wish this show a healthy run.

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 4/9/10 at 6:23pm

I feel bad and am very sad. It all seems a little unfairly harsh. Across the board pans? They can not tell me there is not one redeeming quality in the show.

Feel bad? If you haven't realized, this industry is full of bitches. And to be honest, the Times "praised" the appearance of Cousin It which is one of my favorite parts of the show. The gate was cool too.

[bethnor]

Posted: 4/9/10 at 6:24pm

as someone who mostly lurks, i do have to point out that blaxx, by quite a distance, is one of the most objective poster of reviews in these types of threads. the standing (somewhat suspicious) habit of many folks is to post only those reviews which are in accord with their own opinion of the show (as if to say, i feel this way about the show, and look! the critics agree with MEEEEEEEEEEE!). all blaxx has done in this thread is post ALL reviews, positive or negative, with links to allow the reader to determine for THEMSELVES whether the review is a rant or a rave and to therefore come to their OWN opinion about whether to go see the show. heaven forbid we credit our readers with having the brains god gave a turnip.

she may feel a certain way about the show that may be apparent in her tone, but that happens to be her right. by far it is not the most vitriolic "tone" about the addams family (or any other show on this board), not by a long shot.

[BroadwayBound115]

Posted: 4/9/10 at 9:21pm

You know, Brantley wasn't very clear how he felt about the acting. Even if the material isn't all that strong, the cast is doing an outstanding job performing. They are all very very talented and I think that is a redeeming quality of the show.

[ifuweregay93]

Posted: 4/9/10 at 9:43pm

Blaxx, I am too sorry about jumping to conclusions. I totally get where you're coming from. But I should've known better, seeing as how I joined in January of 2006.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/9/10 at 10:43pm

I cannot believe they are selling that little black box that a hand comes out of to take a coin.

My God, this came on the scene years ago. TAF must have brought up a stash of these in some warehouse. It was a dirt cheap novelty back than. Now.....

Updated On: 4/10/10 at 10:43 PM

[Helene2]

Posted: 4/9/10 at 11:37pm

Averagebwaynut, what is up with you? It's one thing to love a show, it's another to attack anyone who doesn't. You have used this board to promote and boost the Addams Family from the time it opened in Chicago. But you don't respect anyone else's right to an opinion. You constantly try to intimidate and discourage anyone who posts an opposing view. You have repeatedly gone on long emotional diatribes attacking everyone, myself included, who criticized this show, questioning motives and making accusations. Your back-and-forth on this thread, taking on all comers who dare to disagree with you, is an abuse of a public forum. You are way too invested in this show to just be a fan, showgoer and ticket buyer, so please give us a break and quit pretending you are just an impartial theatregoer.
Sally, you said "the reviews in Chicago were not good" but the tickets still sold - That is just not true. Hedy Weiss gave it an unqualified RAVE in the Chicago Sun Times. She found no faults with it at all. Like her or not, she is a fixture in Chicago theatre for 25 yrs, and gives her reviews on PBS news as well as in the paper. Chris Jones of the Tribune was mostly positive, mentioning "a few problems" but after all it was just previews....when the comments section of the Tribune started filling up with ticket buyers who were not happy with the show they saw for extremely expensive ticket prices, he then wrote an article detailing the fixes he thought the show needed.
I saw the show near the close of it's run in Chicago, and I couldn't believe how such a cast, such a set, such beloved characters, with such good reviews and so much money invested, was in reality less entertaining than a sitcom re-run. If people on this board want to try and analyze why it turned out that way, maybe we can all think about it and learn something. We are in a bad economy, ticket prices for this show are extremely high. It's just not right to mislead people with glowing reviews from "critics" like Jones and Weiss, who think their job is to promote theatre in Chicago.
I also have to question the motivation for the excessively long preview times for shows like "Bye Bye Birdie" and "The Addams Family." Birdie is 50 years old, they didn't need almost 6 weeks to tinker with it. Addams Family had months in Chicago to work on the show; went back into rehearsal, then had more than four weeks of "previews." These long preview times for shows with name recognition seem to be a ploy to keep the critics at bay and sell as many tickets as possible before the reviews come out. In fairness to the ticket buyers, there should be some kind of time limit for these unreviewed shows to be selling full-priced "preview" tickets and racking up advance sales.

[BroadwayBound115]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 12:02am

I think Addams' preview length here was to determine what New York critics and other Broadway theatre-goers would say about the production. The cast is not stupid, they know that many think the show is bad and I am sure a few may look at these boards or other sites. But they are doing what they love, they are happy to be employed and they might as well grin and bear it and give the best damn performance possible, even if the material is so-so. I am not trying to butt heads, as I do believe everyone is entitled to their position, I just thought I would give my opinion on the preview length.

[LuPonatic]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 12:13am

It makes me sad to think that the muppets and "City of Angels" can't get along. Who doesn't love the muppets!?!

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 1:55am

I used to have one of those black boxes with the hand that grabbed the coin. I want another one!

So I am just going to throw this out there. People have been back and forth over this show. Is it possible that the show actually achieved what it wanted? I mean, the Addams Family was never a serious show and it was camp. It had silly jokes and bad dialouge. That's what made it fun. I have not seen the show, I have only seen the clips and I have liked what I have seen. Is it possible that the critics and those who have seen it and don't like it went into this and left their campy sense of humor behind or just expected too much? Just a question.

Updated On: 4/10/10 at 01:55 AM

[roadmixer]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 2:11am

New York theatre critics NOT CAMP???!!!!! Surely you jest...

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 2:15am

Didn't know quite how to put it. I guess what I am trying to say is did they not go in expecting that level of humor. Or is it possible that they didn't even achieve it throughout the show. Like I said, I am only going by what I have seen in the clips and they make me want to see the show.

Updated On: 4/10/10 at 02:15 AM