The Addams Family Review - 1/2/10 - Rachel De Benedet U/S Morticia

Bebe said a the stage door on the 30th that she had hurt herself during the show and it got worse on the 30th, so maybe this is the cause of her being out.

How was it better? Have they made changes, etc. since you saw it last, or do you mean the dances are tighter, etc?

---

I heard from an usher that Jackie ad-libs that part in Full Disclosure every night, and changes it up. But normally she ends it up with "I just peed..." hahahaaa.

The other night she said something like "Im a single lady, oh oh oh..." hahahaa.

No solo. He shares his songs, including his biggest, "Crazier than You" with Krysta.

I'm sure this will be closed by the time CATCH ME IF YOU CAN comes in so I hope Ms. De Benedet can shine brightly and get a well-deserved Best Featured nomination for her role in that show, though if she is up against Kerry Butler for the same show she will face stiff competition, because she is absolutely fabulous in CMIYC. I wish they would restore he big establishing number from the second demo.

P

I think Kerry should get "Doctor's Orders", as wonderful as it was in the out-of-town version. That would give her another number to shine in without making the show any longer than it already is. I also hope the opening is cut and starts immediately with "Live In Living Color". Everything else is wonderful as is. Some more imaginative projections might be nice, but I'm sure that's being addressed.

P

just got back from seeing the show in hopes of seeing Rachel, and was lucky that she was on for Bebe. She was absolutely stunning and Morticia and her voice was clear and goregous, VERY different Morticia from Bebe's I felt. More loving and sweet. While she had most of the character down and most of the choreography, there were times when she would stand there out of character in a very awkward stance that didn't seem very Morticia-y. But nonetheless, she was great. Hope Bebe gets well soon.

No changes were made...Act II still needs a LOT of work, especially the finale. The problems get more annoying the more you see it, but the show is still very enjoyable (and the audience loved it).

Jackie's Full Disclosure is pretty much set (don't wanna spoil it) and the "i just peed"/napkin is set. But there are some parts she ad-libs...like today after her Disclosure, as she was walking back to the table she mutters, "What am I doing here? I should be in the attic watching the Bears-Detroit game," which got a huge laugh (and a "YES!" from the guy sitting behind me).

Updated On: 1/3/10 at 10:22 PM

Why are the current topical references such a heavy part of carrying the humor of this show? It seems so disrespectful to the source material to have the Addams talk about Tiger Woods and texting.

I hate that pandering kind of writing. There wasn't enough rich humor to be derived from the Addams being outside the cultural mainstream and having a skewed macabre sensibility?? I don't get it and the rest of the show is not good enough to make up for such low-ball writing. (yes, at least when I saw it in previews. I may see it again before it leaves town for kicks. for cheap.)

No one else thinks this is below reproach? Are we supposed to enjoy it because Lane and Hoffman are noted improvisers? I think the directorial hand should be a bit stricter with such familiar and specific characters.

---

The fact that Fester talks to the audience helps give it some legitimacy also. I thought it was strange at first but then it caught on

Saw the show on 12/29.

I was dissappointed. Nathan Lane didn't really seem to be playing Gomez. It lacked the little sight gags of the TV show. Although, they did have the curtain tie run off stage. The biggest mistake was the plot twist with the giant squid in the basement, it just fell flat and created a really stupid song.

Why did they feel the need for the show to have a moral? The end is very combersome with every character summing up their view of love and life. It seems so unnecessary. Especially, Uncle Fester's moon trip. We already got his dance with the moon, did we really need to waste time with a rocket on his back?

The tango scene needs more passion. They need better choreography and a steamy flair, with comedic punctuations thrown in.

It just seems to be too thrown together. Although, Alice and Grandma characters are well written. The use of the sets is very awkward, the way they move around stage, and often don't seem to fit the scene. The over use of partial curtain pulls is also awkward.

Some funny stuff and good music, but not up to the level I expected. Carolee Carmello should get a Tony nom.

Oh, and Bebe Neuwirth's costume has got to hurt! The amount of tape they have to use to keep it on...

Did anyone else sit in the balcony and find the drummer very distracting with all his stick twirling and arm swing dancing when he wasn't playing?

Updated On: 1/4/10 at 10:44 AM

I totally agree with ErinDillyFan regarding the tango scene. It's messy, doesn't really highlight Gomez and Morticia (Ancestors need to get out of there), and was always very low energy. Also think Alice is probably the best developed character in the show right now.

I sat in the rush boxes, and didn't see the drummer, but the violinists would make funny faces and gestures to the other side of the pit a lot, which was..distracting and amusing at the time time.