Addams Family expectations

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 12:21pm

I'm curious why I've read more than a couple negative predictions about the Addams Family musical. To my eye, it seems like a very solid line up of talent on and off-stage. Obviously, we will have no idea till the show takes shape this winter, but if I were a betting man, I'd put my money on (in) this show. Is it just typical BWW negativity?

[blaxx]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 12:23pm

The higher the expectations...

[SNAFU]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 12:25pm

Honestly, I have a better feeling for this property then I do for Spiderman. I think the Addams Family seems to lend itself better to musical theatre then the web slinger.

[mzk2004]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 12:25pm

It's a great cast and crew -but alas that does not always make a hit. My negative vibes come from the draft of the script I read and the demo I heard. REALLY did not care for either.

The "plot" is weak at best (it's basically "Meet the Parents")...and the score purposely doesn't reference the tv/movie theme -which I think is what the average audience member will expect.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 12:51pm

MZK I'd love to hear more. I understand that producers recently cut a deal to include the TV theme in the score. That was my only worry when I heard about this project- David Merrick always thought a big problem with the Breakfast at Tiffany's score was that people showed up expecting to hear Moon River no matter how many times they told them it was all original music.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 12:52pm

Could go either way, definitely. Lippa's songs on THE WILD PARTY were brilliant one minute, clunky the next. If the show captures the high-kickin' vibe of ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES it could be great fun.

[Kad]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 12:56pm

It has an excellent cast. But who knows? I'm a little dubious that the plot as we've been told can sustain a full-length musical, and the general public isn't familiar with the original Addams Family comics as they are with the TV show and movies.

Personally, I'm just looking forward to Jackie Hoffman. If the show sucks, at least she'll be entertaining.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 1:04pm

After having been stunned by the originality and ferociousness of Next to Normal, an original musical, it makes me get less and less excited about these campy movie knock-offs. Good cast or not, big budget or not, something will always feel hollow. To me, its the difference between an indie film and a big summer blockbuster. The composing is coming from a very different place than someone crafting an original work. It is just a little too theme park for me. I'm not saying it wont be good or entertaining, but Im hoping this trend starts to wane. Id love to see Bebe in something fresher and more human to be honest.

[little_sally]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 1:06pm

I have no expectations but given the cast, I'm seeing it one way or another.

[mzk2004]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 1:09pm

Gist of the plot is the Addams' house is in Central Park and essentially that Wed is seeing a kid it's a meet the parents scenario. The catch is that the dad of the son is only interested in coming because he is a real estate person who wants the Addams' land.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 1:14pm

Also with a cast that large and impressive it becomes hard to see them all in one performance, like it did with Young Frankenstein. After the first few weeks, someone was often out. So you wouldn't get Megan one day, Sutton another, etc. It often takes several visits to see all the featured actors.

[dented146]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 1:24pm

If I was a producer, I'd want the expectations on the low side. Look at the biggest hits in recent years- Ave Q, Jersey Boys, In the Heights, even Wicked, none arrived with huge expectations.

[mzk2004]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 1:27pm

Sadly with that cast expectations will be very high...my money would be on Catch Me If You Can being the surprise in 2010.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 1:55pm

I agree that Catch Me sounds great also.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 2:03pm

I'm most excited about this show and CATCH ME IF YOU CAN for next season in terms of musicals. Oh, and LA CAGE.

On top of having a killer cast, ADDAMS has a really wonderful writing team as well.

But, as we've seen, that doesn't always equal a good show...but I'm hopeful.

Is it just me or does next season feel kinda dull? Maybe they just haven't announced a lot of productions for next season but after this past season, I think we're a bit spoiled. 43 productions was a LOT. I doubt we'll see that many this year.

[Kad]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 2:10pm

Don't forget, this season we saw a lot of open theaters at the start of the year, not to mention a ton of limited runs, which allowed for a greater possible number of shows.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 2:13pm

That's what I'm hoping will happen again this year. But am a bit doubtful of...

Oooh, I hope Robin Williams comes back this coming season with his show!

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 2:27pm

Because of the cast, I think most people are going to have high expectations. Let's just hope the musical lives up to the standards.

That being said, simply based on the cast, I predict the show will be popular but not one of those shows where it is impossible to get tickets.

[Kad]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 2:33pm

"
Oooh, I hope Robin Williams comes back this coming season with his show!"

As do I... I had tickets for him. He's been announcing tour dates and thus far nothing. I'm still hopeful though.

[dented146]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 2:38pm

I think many people will be pleasantly surprised with Memphis.

[legally_popular]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 3:56pm

I try not to raise my expectations too high anymore. When Shrek was on its way to Broadway, I expected a fun, cute, funny musical because of the great cast and creative team involved. Then I saw the show and was really disappointed. While I am excited for the Addams Family, I won't let my expectations get too high. I can't wait for Catch Me If You Can too.

[mzk2004]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 3:59pm

Memphis to me is another Brooklyn...just focusing on race in the 50s. I'm shocked that the producers are putting this smaller show with no stars into one of the larger theaters in NYC. They will be discounting like mad...and better pray for outstanding reviews, which they have yet to get in any city since it premiered in 2005.

[Pgenre]

Posted: 6/10/09 at 10:23pm

I totally agree with BettyBoy... Bebe must be thinking to herself: I study ballet at Julliard, win 2 Tony's as an expert interpreter of Fosse (under his direction, no less), perform Brecht/Weill in a midnight show as few can and now I'm singing dumpy Lippa songs posturing next to Nathan Lane mugging for 2 and 1/2 hours.

I REALLY want it to be good, but f*cking the audience with super exorbident ticket prices out-of-town (and, no, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN's prices did NOT set this precedent) when a $40 million musical written by the biggest band in the world and directed by one of the most visionary directors (TURN OFF THE DARK) is premiering in the same season, as well as the sequal to most successful musical in Broadway history (LOVE NEVER DIES) and the surefire smash musical comedy that guarentees to be an effervescent elixir besting HAIRSPRAY, by the same brill team (CMIYC).

The odds are against them at AF... and Lippa has not yet written anything to even remotely interest me, let alone thrill me. Cheap thrills, at that.

From what I've heard of the scores of TURN OFF THE DARK, LOVE NEVER DIES and CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, Lippa better write something on the level of COMPANY to even be noticed this rich season and for some reason I don't think this project is it. I desperately hope I'm wrong because the cast and concept are so promising.

P

Updated On: 6/10/09 at 10:23 PM

[cmwx122]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 1:05am

Even though the cast is definitely solid, I still hate the idea of the Adams family becoming a musical. first shrek, then spider man, now this?

[I<3bway]

Posted: 6/11/09 at 1:09am

What I would like to know is who's playing Cousin Itt?


And the hand- thingy.