Addams Family cast on Letterman right now! — Page 2

I just hope that the whole cast Purelled themselves after performing on Letterman. Poor Dave sounds like he's got a pretty nasty cold and starting to come down with laryngitis. We don't want any of the cast to get sick this close to Opening Night!

Besides that, I was fine with the opening number. From what I've been reading on here and in other boards, I was expecting a train wreck, but the opening was entertaining enough, and everyone seemed both fairly true to their characters, yet allowing just enough of their own personalities to shine through.

And I'm on the Bebe playing a character bandwagon. I think that if she did any more emoting or dancing than what she did here, it wouldn't really be true to the character. Then again, I'm really fond of Anjelica Huston's interpretation of the character. Cool, collected, and wry. I couldn't imagine her version of Morticia singing and dancing any more than the tango that she does, so why really should we be all down on Bebe being a little icy?

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As The Man In The Chair would say "I know it's not a perfect show ... but it does what a musical is supposed to do. It takes you to another world, and it gives you a little tune to carry with you in your head, for when you're feeling a little blue..."


"And that's just what this show is - fun!"

But having seen the show again myself this past weekend, I'm pretty confident that it hasn't changed substantially enough in the intervening weeks

Good to know.

MiracleElixir, I have to disagree about playing style. Now, I was not crazy about much of the number but that grim faced style on characters other than Lane is probably suited to the show. they even do that in the TV show. I thought Bebe was better than I expected (although I hated that silly laugh towards the front). I also thought it worked better on TV than stage because the editing gave it a certain surprise and faster paced quality than it has now.

Ok... so I saw the show live a few weeks ago and I sat up in the balcony. I have a feeling that the majority of people on this site who see the show sit up there as well. I'm starting to think that the Lunt-Fontanne (sp?), while a beautiful theatre, is actually a poor choice for this particular musical. I missed a lot of detail in the costumes, expressions, etc. The sound was also not too great either. I actually liked the performance on Letterman. Even Bebe, who looked bored from where I was sitting, actually just looks like she is in character here. Morticia is supposed to be very reserved. I don't know how I feel about it. I didn't love it when I saw it, but maybe I'll try going back and sitting a little closer.

I thought Clandango was a better song and the choreography was leaps ahead of this, but it didn't work as well as an opening number as this does.

I think the number is a little too peppy. Clandango had more of a solemness about it (with a knowing Addams wink) that was more suited to the show (and definitely didn't have the HUGE about-face from the tone of the overture we now have). However, perhaps it has evolved and is more of a traditional musical comedy now, in which case the new number may be more fitting - which seems to be a big argument around these parts right now.

Regardless, Bebe's laugh business is priceless and the highlight of that video. IMHO, she's the one most in tune with the piece and actually giving a performance. Maybe add Krysta to that as well. The rest of the clan are basically themselves, which is fine since it happens to work for these characters.

I was ready to hate it, but I have to say that was pretty damn cute. If the book is genuinely witty and the rest of the score as serviceable as that, it could be pretty good.

I must say the design is truly gorgeous.

"you also have to remember that they threw in a bunch of dialogue from other parts of the show to get some laughs for their performance."

...Example? I didn't notice any.

its growing on me now that i watched it again... but as far as i remember, the whole death of a salesman/anthrax bit was used later in the show. idk if they moved it to the opening number or just switched it around for TV purposes....

'And excuse me if I don't buy the "low-energy" thing as an intentional, character-definition thing. I'm not expecting them to all be loud and smiley and belting like they're Ethel Merman. But I do expect them to be acting like they give a s**t.


So you think a cast of a big new Broadway musical gets a shot on national Televison to promote and sell tickets to keep themselves gainfully employed would just walk through it not caring? That's what you think. How about you have absolutely no idea who The Addams Family is. They are playing characters outside the mainstream, why would they perform that way? The family has no use for the world outside theirs. They talk about death and dark things, bouncy they're not. Some of you may want Bebe to Tapdance and and blow feathers out of her ass while doing cartwheels, that ain't Morticia. Most of you people are complaining about the creators of this show getting it right and being true to the source.

For someone who really disliked the show as a whole, I enjoyed this number both in context as well as this performance specifically. It'll definitely sell tickets.

And I don't think Lane got the "good jokes." He could just find a joke in Anne Frank's diary. He makes the jokes a hell of a lot funnier than they should be.