LATEST Addams Family thoughts?- Page 3

[raker]

Posted: 3/7/10 at 8:34am

I can't get over how ugly Bebe Neuwirth's costume is.

Posted: 3/7/10 at 8:51am

This thread is now a week old. Who wants to start the "LATEST Latest Addams Family thoughts?" thread?

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 3/7/10 at 11:45am

I was there last night too. The gent I went with said he liked the Chicago version better. But then he liked The Pirate Queen in Chicago, but I digress...

I liked it, didn't love it. My biggest issue ended up being Wednesday's character - she starts the show in love and that ends up being the cue for a couple of pretty forgettable numbers, including a very generic I Want song that sounded cut and pasted from that Fiona number from Shrek ("I Know It's Today" I think?). Otherwise most of the numbers were clever, and will be great with some fine-tuning. And perhaps some heavy lyrical trimming on the act two numbers, where it was heavy with the more forgettable songs.

There is an almost criminal underuse of Terrence Mann and I think Bebe Neuwirth. I could watch Bebe walk around the stage wiggling in her Morticia costume all day, but I wish they could work out a way to get her dancing more. You can't have Bebe on a stage and not have get some dancing in.

Otherwise they did a great job of bringing out the quirks of the characters, and the audience ate it up. So did I, and could give a crap if it was a free ticket. The casting was stellar all the way around, doing a great job of landing the laughs and family bonding. The show looked great, costumes were fantastic (though I agree about Bebe's costume, but what can you do), choreography might need some spiffing up, especially the opening number.

Oh, and one last thing. Nathan Lane clearly has his grubby little mitts into the show. I hate to say there's too much Nathan, but there were a couple of points where the schtick got in the way of things. Of course it was hysterical, but it stopped the momentum at points. Maybe if they chopped a little of his points, we could enjoy everyone else a little more?

If the show might end up being a little more accessible than the Chicago version, at least it worked out to a pretty fun evening.

[wickedfan11]

Posted: 3/7/10 at 12:32pm

Could someone list the musical numbers?

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 3/7/10 at 12:56pm

We didn't get Playbills, so we'll have to wait until first paid preview, unless someone found some. (I know I couldn't find any.)

[Smaxie]

Posted: 3/7/10 at 12:59pm

>Flahooley -- well OK, since you have a friend in the press office and since you want us to take his/her/your word as gospel, what's the advance for "Wicked"? Same press office -- do tell...I for one would love to know. :) <

The Publicity Office, the firm handling The Addams Family, has not represented Wicked for several years now. Wicked is handled by The Hartman Group.

[averagebwaynut]

Posted: 3/7/10 at 1:05pm

Smaxie -- thanks for setting me straight. But the show is somewhat immaterial (was just curious about 'Wicked' in particular). I think The Publicity Office still handles "Phantom" so perhaps Flahooley can provide us with their advance figure from his/her "friend in the press office". Actually, if he can give us the "Phantom" figure, that would go a ways toward establishing some credibility -- at least with me -- since I can get independent verification of that figure through a friend of my own. :)

[shanwow]

Posted: 3/7/10 at 1:48pm

everythingtaboo, did they cut the numbers in the second act where Bebe dances? That would make sense because they didn't really help to move the story along, but that's a shame if they did. Did she do any dancing?

[jamiekennywicked]

Posted: 3/7/10 at 2:23pm

Has the Show Curtain changed? And is 'Pulled' still in the show?

[lulu10]

Posted: 3/7/10 at 2:25pm

"Sorry but lulu10's posts reek of shill. "

Yeah, those past couple came off a bit strong. :) Chalk it up to the fact that I had been up since 2:30am yesterday morning and was a bit overexcited. (I feel much more sane after a good night's sleep and brunch!) Sorry - this was my first time at an invited dress and only my second time in NYC. I was so excited to be there that the giddiness got the best of me – all I know is that I really liked the show. The only other show that I saw before it went to Broadway was "The Pirate Queen"...so I was just happy to see that Addams made the right cuts and actually improved the show since it was in Chicago. What a night, I love NY.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 3/7/10 at 2:29pm

I can only recall one number where Bebe does some dancing at the end of act two. Pulled I believe is still in the show.

[webster712]

Posted: 3/7/10 at 3:44pm

I really believe in this show. I left the theatre singing the songs and wanting to hear more, and I've never laughed so hard.

I think that there were also some really great stand-out performances that should be acknowledged: Krysta Rodriguez really held her own among a very well-established, famous cast. She really balanced Wednesday's freaky side with her normal teenage girl side. Also, Carolee Carmello was quite a surprise for me. I have never liked her much in the past, but I thought she played the role brilliantly. She captured so much comedy and life in her role, and actually made her sometimes off-putting voice work perfectly. Nathan Lane is always brilliant, and Jackie Hoffman made me laugh so hard.

Bebe's voice did leave a lot to be desired, but for me, I felt that she made up for it with her acting and dancing. She truly embodied the character of Morticia, and I find that more important than a stellar voice....especially since she didn't have that much of a singing-heavy role.

[webster712]

Posted: 3/7/10 at 3:45pm

I really believe in this show. I left the theatre singing the songs and wanting to hear more, and I've never laughed so hard.

I think that there were also some really great stand-out performances that should be acknowledged: Krysta Rodriguez really held her own among a very well-established, famous cast. She really balanced Wednesday's freaky side with her normal teenage girl side. Also, Carolee Carmello was quite a surprise for me. I have never liked her much in the past, but I thought she played the role brilliantly. She captured so much comedy and life in her role, and actually made her sometimes off-putting voice work perfectly. Nathan Lane is always brilliant, and Jackie Hoffman made me laugh so hard.

Bebe's voice did leave a lot to be desired, but for me, I felt that she made up for it with her acting and dancing. She truly embodied the character of Morticia, and I find that more important than a stellar voice....especially since she didn't have that much of a singing-heavy role.

[mina3]

Posted: 3/7/10 at 5:11pm

Bebe has two dance numbers in the second act - one with ensemble backup and one more of a ballroom-style with Nathan (and ensemble). I do wish she got to showcase her dance ability earlier in the show, but by the time the number with Nathan rolls around (almost last thing in the show), it's really satisfying to see her finally get to pull out all the stops.

Pulled is still in the show, and the show curtain has not changed - I LOVE the way they use the curtain, and they've added some awesome new effects to it.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 3/7/10 at 5:35pm

Do Carolee and Mann's solos still exist?

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 3/7/10 at 5:40pm

mina3, perhaps I'm forgetting, but wasn't the ensemble and pair with Nathan part of the same production number? It felt long, so maybe I dozed off an missed something? I know one number was on the roof.

I agree about loving the way they use the curtain, and the staircases as well.

[mina3]

Posted: 3/7/10 at 7:43pm

everythingtaboo - I was counting Morticia's song in the bedroom with the ensemble (early in act 2) as its own dance number - maybe not quite as choreography-intensive as the one you mentioned, but more so than the other songs.

Mildred - Yes, Carolee and Terrence still have their solos.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 3/7/10 at 7:49pm

Ty for the info Mina. I was worried they'd be the biggest victims of the changes. Good they still have parts.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 3/7/10 at 8:09pm

Thanks, Mina. I know what you mean now!

Mildred, I have to say that while Carolee and Terrance still have their solos, Carolee's is far more successful than Terrence's. Then again, it was only an invited dress, so I have faith they'll tweak Terrence's in due course.

[raggballad2]

Posted: 3/8/10 at 12:47am

" I was counting Morticia's song in the bedroom with the ensemble (early in act 2) as its own dance number"

that sounds like the Second Banana dance break...so I'm guessing they kept that number/Morticia's aging issue?

[mina3]

Posted: 3/8/10 at 12:56am

raggballad2 - It's not Second Banana, it's a new song (one of six). Much more dancing than I remember from Second Banana, but it's been a while and that song wasn't the most memorable, so maybe I'm wrong.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/8/10 at 12:58am

So does Morticia still have aging issues?

[lulu10]

Posted: 3/8/10 at 5:15pm

She still has some aging issues, but it is more about her changing role in the family than crows feet. I am glad that they added some dancing for her and cut the Second Banana number. Sad that they also cut the swordfight...but I was thrilled that my favorite Fester number is still in the show. :) I think that one of the big improvements was giving GrandMaMa more of a role in the show.

[CarmenDeBris]

Posted: 3/8/10 at 5:18pm

Did they cut the tango as well?! Or just the sword fight?

[lulu10]

Posted: 3/8/10 at 5:47pm

There is still a tango, but it has changed -- in a different number with some of the old number mixed in.