THE ADDAMS FAMILY to Close on Broadway December 31- Page 2

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 8/24/11 at 1:35pm

I was really looking forward to this show. With the characters and the great material, they had so many possibilities. What did the writers do? They just rewrote "You Can't Take It With You and stuck in the Addams Family. And to top it off, with the exception of Nathan Lane, they wasted all that talent. For instance, the amazing Jackie Hoffman was given nothing to do.

Oh well ... Bye Bye Addams Family.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/24/11 at 1:50pm

Jackie Hoffman was given the irreverent and pop culture zingers. It's funny because it's so ironic! And old lady being hip and saucy. Who saw that coming? The creativity was truly astounding.

[Broadway Joe]

Posted: 8/24/11 at 1:57pm

I enjoyed the show, yes it wasn't great or anything but I thought it was fun. The best part of the show is the sets.

[WestVillage]

Posted: 8/24/11 at 2:28pm

Addams Family was one of the most boring shows I have ever seen. What a missed opportunity. It could have been fabulous, but it was so dull. Even the cast looked bored. Surprised it lasted as long as it did.

[averagebwaynut]

Posted: 8/24/11 at 3:26pm

Blaxx wrote:

Wasn't this the "critic proof" show of the decade? The one that showed that reviews are obsolete? The one that would run 250 years making a quazillion dollars on its way?

Actually no, nor do I think many (if any) people said that it was (including me, though I'm certainly a fan of the show).

Of course, when it comes to TAF, a mocking comment is to be expected from Blaxx and dozens of others on this board. But at least mock something factual or something that was actually a widely-held belief and not revisionist history you're essentially making up now to suit your own need to slam the show yet again.

In truth, the majority of people (on BWW and elsewhere) have been predicting the demise of this show since the day its reviews came out (if not earlier) so the fact that it lasted as long as it did, well beyond Nathan's run, is a noteworthy accomplishment. Perhaps undeserved -- reasonable people can disagree about that -- but noteworthy nevertheless.

From what's been said publicly and been rumored, I don't think the show will have quite recouped by the time it closes. But with their tour launching and all those other productions happening in the next few years -- all of which will pay money back to the Broadway company in some fashion -- I'll bet it gets there within another year or two.

I do agree with the earlier poster who surmised that "Ghost" will be the next occupant of the Lunt (as Riedel has also suggested). Actually seems somewhat fitting following on the heels of the Addams clan.

[blaxx]

Posted: 8/24/11 at 4:32pm

Sorry, love, I do not have the will or energy to go look for the endless threads where multiple posters agressively pointed out how this show demonstrated how critics were obsolete and would be dead soon. And how it would be a box office mega hit for decades.

That's not counting interviews with the cast where they pointed out the same facts and tried to give the critics the middle finger. I don't know what you mean by "factual", and trying to imply this was not a "widely-held belief" is simply untrue. I understand how it must burn when the awful show you loved closes at a loss.

But, if you'd like me to prove it, then you win. I will not waste any energy to prove what this poor excuse of a show did by itself. In the end, I guess I'm not "reasonable people" (which is better than calling me racist for disliking Bombay Dreams).

And, it is blaxx for you, love.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 8/24/11 at 5:04pm

Great ideas, no make that fantastic properties turned over to second-level creative talents often end up like this. The idea of an "Adams Family" musical IS almost perfect, but if the execution is as sad as this one was....

I hear the same thing about "Ghost." And we all saw what happened to "Happy Days..."

I guess the lesson is, "A good idea doesn't sing and dance by itself."

Updated On: 8/24/11 at 05:04 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/24/11 at 5:14pm

I haven't really heard the same about Ghost. I was skeptical when it was announced, but most of what I've heard is surprisingly positive. But I never thought the idea of a Happy Days musical was a good one. Not for a second.

[staunchcharacter]

Posted: 8/24/11 at 5:17pm

I'm a gigantic addams fan. I have every Dv set I can find. SO when I heard of this musical I was overjoyed And I enjoyed it thoroughly, it was very well directed (I mean hat a greta use of curtain!) And i liked the homy sitcomy plot. That's what makes the addamses fun for me: their crazy version of everyday situations. But I will admit that the original cast gave it some major lift.

[blaxx]

Posted: 8/24/11 at 5:20pm

I haven't really heard the same about Ghost. I was skeptical when it was announced, but most of what I've heard is surprisingly positive.

The reviews were far from raves for Ghost. Some were postive, but certainly not unanimous.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 8/24/11 at 5:49pm

This makes me so very sad

At least bring Nathan & Bebe back to close it with dignity

[showchoirguy]

Posted: 8/24/11 at 6:00pm

I love the cast recording! I think this show is very entertaining and I think that it had a wonderful run! Best of luck to the cast :)

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 8/24/11 at 7:00pm

"Wasn't this the "critic proof" show of the decade? The one that showed that reviews are obsolete? The one that would run 250 years making a quazillion dollars on its way?"

I thought that was Spiderman?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 8/24/11 at 8:05pm

I'm so sad about this. All of those actors will be out of work.

Sad. Terribly sad,

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/25/11 at 12:16am

again, does anyone know if the show recouped???

[shomeika]

Posted: 8/25/11 at 12:18am

>>>>>>>>>>>>> GHOST.

[gypsy4]

Posted: 8/25/11 at 12:21am

I wonder if Miss Hoffman is Celebrating? I wish they hadn't cancelled her Video Blog!

[allofmylife]

Posted: 8/25/11 at 12:39am

I wanted this one written by Marc Shaimen and Scott Whitman and Thomas Meehan. They would have put it out of the ballpark.

And why does it take seventeen producers (and six companies) to mount a show based on "The Adams Family?"

[AvenueQResident]

Posted: 8/25/11 at 1:37am

'Through the critics did not praise the production, they praised the show's original principal leading cast, Nathan Lane as 'Gomez' and Bebe Neuwirth as 'Morticia'. The show still did well at the box office, selling more than $1million worth of tickets in it's first year. However, it seems the production did not recoup its costs, with producer Stuart Oken telling Variety, in May 2011, that the show was, "about two-thirds of the way toward recoupment.'

Updated On: 8/25/11 at 01:37 AM

[averagebwaynut]

Posted: 8/25/11 at 8:02am

Ahhh blaxx...delighted to see that your pathetic condescension continues unabated. And how sad (and convenient) that you don't have the time or the inclination -- or ability -- to back up most of what you've written. You belong in Congress, "love".

P.S. Thanks for telling me how I feel about the show's finances but it's bad enough your facts are shaky. When it comes to reading my mind (why would I care about recoupment?), you're just completely clueless.

P.P.S. Please remind me when I called you a "racist". It's entirely believable to me that you were, but I also don't use that word lightly or often. And I hated Bombay Dreams too. So if you're going to make that sort of personal accusation, maybe you can find a moment to at least back that up with a citation of some kind. Or perhaps it came from someone else who thinks as little of you as I do.

[Branson East]

Posted: 8/25/11 at 8:36pm

A question: Did anybody ever try to engage Vic Mizzy to do an Addams Family show? Not this one of course; he died in 2009 and he was 93. But a show. Anyone who's heard that Perfecto anthology of his themes and background music will know he was exceptionally inventive. To quote from an Amazon.com review, "The only problem I have approaching a movie or TV show scored by Vic Mizzy is the almost certain knowledge that his score will be the best thing about it." And he wrote two theme songs that will be familiar as long as people watch TV. Bad idea or otherwise -- and I say it was bad, whatever its promise -- I submit this musical died in part because the score wasn't by Vic Mizzy.

[Bialystock]

Posted: 8/26/11 at 6:03am

I find this quite sad news, sure it wasn't the best show ever written, but it was a lot of fun.

I live in London and was fortunate enough to catch this show twice - the first time with the OBC who were great, especially Nathan Lane; and the second time with Roger Rees and Brooke Shields. I enjoyed the show both times and although Nathan was by far the best Gomez, Brooke was a much better Morticia than Bebe, as was Brad Oscar as Fester.

Both times I saw it, the audience had a blast which is what I think a show is all about. I attend the theatre to have fun and be entertained, and that's what this show does. The story is predictable and weak, and some of the song's aren't great - but overall, the costumes, actors, set and jokes are brilliant.

I'm hoping the show has a transfer to the West End, because if Shrek can do well over here - I'm sure the Addams could.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/26/11 at 6:21am

Let the show die with dignity? Oh, please. I have no idea who is better in the roles, as I haven't had the slightest interest in this show, so I didn't see it. And the show can't be doing HORRIBLY because they are even closing for 4 months.

Unless a show has become iconic -- as so few really are, thank goodness --- I think bringing back the original leads is tacky and pandering, not to mention disrespectful of the current actors.

[hyperbole_and_a_half]

Posted: 8/26/11 at 11:18am

I still think "The Addams Family" is a rich property to base a musical upon, but I am not sad to see Andrew Lippa's La Cage Aux Goths go.

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 8/26/11 at 11:45am

Post the holiday months, and with Shields' draw, it may just barely recoup. Six months is a while, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it do bang-up business over Halloween and the winter holidays.

Sad to see people out of work, but onwards and upwards.