'The Addams Family' can still be a Broadway hit  but it's no snap". - Chicago Tribune

Very interesting blog posted by Chris from the Chicago Theatre Blog. He also mentions all the hits and flops of Chicago tryouts and mentions the new Cirq and how it's not selling!!
Chicago Theatre Blog

Chris does a great job- but one thing I'd have added to his columns is that audiences seem to really like Addams Family. There's been a real clamor for tickets and the audience has reacted very positively, even if they say that it was only so-so.

While I have not seen Cirque, I have also not heard one peep of praise about it.

First, the decade ends NEXT year. This is what happens, I guess, when people don't take arithmetic in elementary school. Second, that puts Aida in the last decade. Math isn't that hard, really it isn't.

Joe, I've had two different friends see that Cirque show who aren't snarky people. Both have been a part of shows during the developmental process when the shows haven't quite found their feet and yet both of them seemed to describe Banana Shpeel (sp?) as "insulting, flailing, and completely lost in its intention."

As for Addams, they both said that talking to friends in the cast, the creatives know that they have a pretty good show that isn't anywhere near a home run yet and they seem to be ready to really re-examine its problem areas before the transfer. I hope they get there. The book needs to be strong enough that it still works when you take Nathan and Jackie out of the equation.

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So I saw the show again last night, and since I saw it in previews, changes have been made to make the family more "Addamsy." I still don't like how Gomez adds the "I go too far" after his jokes, but I enjoyed the show more this time than the last.

Choreography was changed, dialogue was changed, and some songs were changed (I don't know if these were changed by opening. I saw it first on 11/27). They changed some stuff in "Clandango" (the questions), and"Second Banana" is shorter and Bebe has more dancing than when I saw it last. The Ancestors also don't sing in it like they did before with the "join the portrait" part. I enjoyed "In the Arms" a lot more than I did last time, but then it seemed to me that the Beinkes had a much stronger resolution to their conflict than the Addamses (which I think should be fixed). It's a thought I had while watching the show last night, but I think the Ancestors should play a smaller role in the Swordfight and completely get out of the Tango scene. I feel like its Gomez's and Morticia's moment, and they really need one to themselves. The show still ends on a low note after building up so much in Act I.

Overall, again, I really really enjoyed the show, and while it still needs work, I can't wait to see it again. The audience also enjoyed it, and I overheard quite a few people say "I like it, but it's not all there yet."

BTW, they announced that they're recording an album in April on their official Facebook fan page.

Updated On: 12/19/09 at 10:11 AM

Yes, there needs to be more of a focus on the Addamses. There was that one scene in "Pulled" with Wednesday torturing Pugsley, but, I wanted more of that.

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My friend saw the show on Sunday and we compared notes. Sounds like they haven't made changes since Opening Night there, which doesn't particularly surprise me. After such a long rehearsal and preview process, wouldn't be shocked to imagine that everyone went off to get a little time away from the show, have some meetings, regroup, get some perspective and perhaps we'll see some changes during the last week of performances in Chicago. I'm going to try and see it over the final weekend via a buddy who is a student and can get me a rush ticket. Plus, they still have about 2 months between the final performance in Chicago and the first in NYC to work on it.

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"and perhaps we'll see some changes during the last week of performances in Chicago."

I'm pretty sure the show is frozen in Chicago since the official opening night already happened, so don't expect any (big) changes in a few weeks.

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