ADDAMS FAMILY Reviews- Page 8

[rufussars]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 7:00am

If the ticket-buyers and/or critics truly entered the Lunt-Fontanne without dragging along a sense of humor poised for anything but comic alchemy, schtick galore, and outlandish gags out the wazoo, then they're not intelligent enough to be spending that kind of money/critiquing anything. Everyone vaguely familiar with the franchise knew what to expect. Everyone knew what the end result should've been. Everyone knew that the show failed to deliver on its two most important creative elements at the very least. The spoofy television show worked for its time and purpose. But, when you heighten the emotional tensions with song for 2 1/2 hours at $100+, mere camp (or, at least, haphazard thoughtless camp) will just not do. SPAMALOT, which trumps TAF's silliness by a mile, was so carefully constructed and meticulously crafted to feel slap-dash that the endearing, sweet "Find Your Grail" finale was all the more poignant. It was a fabulous contrast that provided a satisfactory reverse catharsis...dramatic relief, if you will. This lack of cohesion is simply why ADDAMS fell vastly short of the vaunted mark set by the many comedies of the past decade.

Updated On: 4/10/10 at 07:00 AM

[BroadwayBound115]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 9:50am

Actually, I have to disagree with you. Myself and 5 other friends saw the show in Chicago. I had no idea what to expect nor did I know what the end result was supposed t be. It did not fail to deliver on most of the creative elements. The set was absolutely beautiful, the lighting was incredible, the costumes were gorgeous, the make-up was impeccable. The choreography was breath-taking, especially in the now-cut tango number. I enjoyed the music and the dialogue. If you want to talk about a creative element failing, I could understand if you didn't like the book or score. But I would not say two out of seven creative elements would be most of the creative elements.

[rufussars]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 10:24am

While I did take small issue with the design elements, I'll retract that statement. I must concede that some (including the Venus flytrap and the squid) were actually somewhat impressive. OK, I'll give you that one. But, as one who knew precisely what was to be expected and intended by the creative team, I felt it was drastically lacking in terms of book & score, two elements that should firmly stand head and shoulders above anything else in the musical theatre. And, come on, you and your 5 friends had to have been prepared at least for a traditional musical comedy, BroadwayBound.

[BroadwayBound115]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 10:26am

Oh we knew it would be funny, no doubt, and we laughed a great deal. I had no idea what to expect in terms of plot. I do agree that score and book are two of the most important elements, I just felt that the other ones should not go unnoticed.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 10:27am

This looks like another one of those shows that sounded good on paper.

[mikeyb16]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 11:36am

Is it me or does Brantley hate theatre practically? Because I've read some reviews on shows he's seen and nothing ever seems to satify him. Does Broadway really need that?

Just a curious thought.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 12:56pm

That's a ridiculous question. Brantley has given some excellent reviews (mostly to shows that deserve them). ADDAMS is a bad show. So Brantley gave it the pan it, quite frankly, deserved.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 1:00pm

Brantley likes quite a lot and if you've ever seen an interview with him, he speaks quite passionately about theatre. And in this case, it's not like he's panning something that every other critic adored.

[BroadwayBound115]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 1:06pm

This is a serious question just out of curiosity, what is one musical that Ben Brantley absolutely loved? I really am just curious. I don't read his reviews all the time so I don't know.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 1:09pm

This is a serious question just out of curiosity, what is one musical that Ben Brantley absolutely loved? I really am just curious. I don't read his reviews all the time so I don't know.

Off the top of my head....Fela, next to normal, Spring Awakening, the revival of South Pacific, LuPone's Gypsy, Everyday Rapture, Red...
Updated On: 4/10/10 at 01:09 PM

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 1:14pm

If anything, Brantley is a soft touch, especially anything British.

Come back to the five and dime, Frank Rich, Frank Rich...

[BroadwayBound115]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 1:29pm

Thank you adamgreer

[averagebwaynut]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 2:27pm

Ahhhh...Helene2...I was wondering when your demented, distorted view of the world would be heard from again.

You claim:

t's one thing to love a show, it's another to attack anyone who doesn't.

Unfounded and untrue. There are literally dozens of posters on this board who have voiced negative opinions about Addams and I have said nary a word. I voice my disagreement with certain opinions and do so selectively either when I disagree vehemently or when I feel that the opinion expressed is unsubstantiated.

You have used this board to promote and boost the Addams Family from the time it opened in Chicago.

Promote? Hardly. Express my affinity for? Absolutely. In the same way many many other posters do for shows they like or hate as passionately.

But you don't respect anyone else's right to an opinion.

Again, unfounded and untrue. I didn't respect YOUR right to express information as fact that you could not know or that could be reasonably disproven. But what I very specifically don't do is invalidate anyone's right to an opinion. In point of fact, in almost every instance, you'll note that I go to specific lengths to make it clear that the person with whom I take issue is in fact entitled to their opinion. However, if I think they're opinion can be disproven, I will seek to do so. But if it's a pure subjective opinion, please show me where I've denied (whatever that means) anyone the right to theirs.

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.

Really? Please show me intimidation (what exactly does that even mean online?). Perhaps the fact that I use big words and tend to err on the side of writing more rather than less intimidates you. If so, too bad. I'm good at expressing myself and enjoy doing so. That's my right, just the same as it's yours (if only you were better at it). As for "emotional", that's your interpretation but I can assure you that there's very little emotion in most of what I write. Except perhaps in response to you. Since you're clearly an ill-informed, irrational lunatic and that just annoys me. That's the emotion you bring out in me.

Your back-and-forth on this thread, taking on all comers who dare to disagree with you, is an abuse of a public forum.

Fascinating. As noted above, I take on only a fraction of the comers who hate "The Addams Family", so spare me the accusations. And as for "an abuse of a public forum", spare me as well. This forum is precisely the place where reasonable people can argue about their differing opinions about art. Or in your case, unreasonable people. If you don't like being called on your postings, rather than lashing out at the person(s) that do so, make sure they're better informed before you post in the first place. Or don't. But then don't come bitching to me.

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.

Ahhh..there it is. I like a show too much so I must be a shill or involved. All I can say is "I wish". As I've said before, I have had some involvement tangentially in theatre in the past and I have quite a few friends who work in the industry. But as they themselves will tell you, I'm as quick to bemoan their work as I am to praise it. Probably MORE likely to bemoan it as I like very little. I just happen to really like "The Addams Family", I happen to have seen it earlier than most and more often than most, and in general, I like defending a minority opinion. You're of course welcome to believe whatever you like. But if I was involved in Addams, I doubt I would waste my time arguing with the folks on BWW. It's more fun precisely because I have nothing to gain or lose.

But thanks for playing our game.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 2:58pm

I wish Charles Busch and Joey Arias worked on the book. I think they could do something more in the spirt of the goth comics.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 3:00pm

Alright boys and girls, do play nicer before our Esteemed Administrator decides to pull the plug on this thread. I'm burning some time before I go see "Xanadu" at the Dallas Music Hall. Peace. from Roman in Austin, Texas

[wicked91]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 3:36pm

random thought.... but does anyone else think that the large male ancestor and the woman in the suit look incredibly out of place with the rest.....

[shrekster224]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 7:10pm

well, he could be lurch's ancestor :)

at least he's probably his understudy

[Aint She Sweet]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 10:13pm

Who thinks it is funny that a daughter and girlfriend of teh producers of this mess of a show is putting people down for not likeing it? Look in this thread and thw Adamms Family Tony's thread. Can you spot the shill?

[Helene2]

Posted: 4/11/10 at 12:03am

Yes, Ain't she sweet, there is obviously a shill on the board.
Averagebwaynut, you described me as "demented" "distorted" and "clearly an ill-formed irrational lunatic" because I don't like the Addams Family, but then you deny attacking people who disagree with you?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 4/11/10 at 12:07am

Don't be a goober, man! Tell us who is the shill?

[averagebwaynut]

Posted: 4/11/10 at 3:33am

Helene2,

Nope. You've missed the point as usual.

I describe you as "demented" "distorted" and "clearly an ill-formed irrational lunatic" because of your accusations against me which are unfounded and untrue. Those descriptions of you have nothing to do with your opinion of "The Addams Family".

Indeed, your opinions about the Addams Family matter not to me and in fact, without going back to check, I don't recall ever commenting previously on your opinions about the show itself. My critiques of your past posts focused, I believe, on your a) being so over-the-top upset about seeing a show that by definition was still being worked on and was, at the time you saw it, unfinished and b) your assertions about ticket sales for the show in Chicago.

As I've said countless times, I may disagree, but I have absolutely no problem with you or anyone else hating the show. But if you write something that is NOT a subjective opinion but a statement of fact, and it is unfounded, or if you write something that is fundamentally unreasonable or illogical, than you can expect to be called on it. That is all I'd ever done to you until today, when you decided to assign emotions and actions to me that simply have no basis in fact -- which in turn triggered my aforementioned comments about your dementia, lunacy, and irrationality.

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 4/11/10 at 11:58am

averagebwaynut, you are only a mere stand-by, you are attacking Broadway Legends that have absolute integrity on here.

Know your place sir.

[gcontini2]

Posted: 4/11/10 at 2:01pm

"...Averagebwaynut, you are only a mere stand-by....know your place sir..."

Phantom, you're kidding, right?

While I don't agree with Averagebwaynut's arguments and unkind name-calling of Helene2, I defend both of their rights to have that (hopefully calmer) conversation, regardless of a ranking system invented for this website only....

For you to say that his/her opinion is less valid because of a label assigned after time spent or number of posts on these boards is ridiculous..

In and of itself, the number of posts/time spent may affect one's label in this particular (relatively new to the world) web technology and form of expression,
but it's in no way some kind of conferred degree attesting to one's knowledge and/or experience in the theater world... Get real, please.




Updated On: 4/11/10 at 02:01 PM

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 4/12/10 at 4:23pm

gcontini2 - Know your place sir.

[BroadwayBound115]

Posted: 4/12/10 at 6:03pm

I am going to rid this thread of negativity and say - THE ADDAMS FAMILY IS MUSICAL THAT IS LOVED BY SOME AND HATED BY SOME! Look! I just summed up 8 pages of arguments with one simple, true statement! All done!!