What you thought of Addams Family

[Bwaynerd]

Posted: 6/26/10 at 9:53pm

Dont bash the show just say what u liked and wat you didn't. be honest

I liked the Music but the score was all over the place. The dancing in the tango scene was good. The costumes were great. The set was incredable and should have been nominated

i was upset that jackie hoffman wasn't in more. With the exeption of tango i think act 2 lacked alot more then act 1. loved act 1 but act 2 draged alot

[newintown]

Posted: 6/27/10 at 8:26am

I was disappointed that, given so much time and money, the best they could come up with was a mediocre work.

The design was good in places; I particularly liked the framing of the red show curtain (and the runaway tassel). But the house mostly resembled a decaying New Orleans hotel.

The story was a tired rehash of You Can't Take It With You and La Cage.

The lyrics went in one ear and out the other; the music was listenable, but not memorable.

Nathan was in command and effortless with his schtick; Bebe sings like Katherine Hepburn but looks terrific; the kids had very nasal, annoying voices; Carolee's huge number had no real point. Kevin Chamberlin's number was the best mesh of material and performer - the show really came to life for me at that one time only.

The chorus of family ghosts didn't make a lot of sense - 1) they looked like typical young chorines in ghost drag, and 2) they didn't appear to have any connection to Addams family weirdness, they were just regular historical types.

Not an unbearably bad show, it was like sitting in a plane waiting for take-off, but never taking off. We all just got up and returned to the terminal at the end.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 6/27/10 at 9:25am

I thought the design elements were amazing, particularly the puppetry that Basil Twist created. I enjoyed myself, but it's not something I'd probably ever want to see again. I thought it was mostly a case of incredibly talented people in underwritten parts. I adored Nathan Lane, but I think the person who ultimately came off the best and had the most to work with was Kevin Chamberlin...I agree with newintown that his big number (the one he sings to the moon) was probably one of the only moments where real theatrical "magic" happened. Overall, just kind of disappointing in the end (even though I had fun)...it's such great source material and with better writers I think it could have been so much better.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 6/27/10 at 10:38am

The entire "You Can't Take It With You" plot rip off ruins the funniest and most essential part of these characters. They think they are normal.

I can't believe the production team could start off with such great characters and this was the only plot line they could come up with.
The sets are great, but the songs aren't memorable, the lyrics are banal and the plot is just stupid. Worse, by making leads of other characters, the family is under utilized.

When the show and cast was announced I had such high hopes, the show never lived up to its potential.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 6/27/10 at 11:29am

I just watched the movie again the other night, and it made me wish that Marc Shaiman had been brought in to write the score. His film score was quite wonderful. Actually, I wish that they had just set out to musicalize that film. The "fake" Fester plot is far more interesting that what is currently on stage.

[mallardo]

Posted: 6/27/10 at 12:30pm

If only Marc Shaiman HAD written the score. Lippa's score is a mess and, for me, the main reason the show doesn't work.

[zepka102]

Posted: 6/27/10 at 1:13pm

I saw the show last night from front row center, which was awesome because of the talent that's up there. I agree with everything that was said so far. It's a weak story and Act Two is pretty weak, outside of Bebe's number at the top of the act. The cast is excellent with what they're given. Loved Nathan and Bebe, and I could see why Kevin was nominated. His number was also very entertaining. Krysta I saw go on as Vanessa in ITH, and I was disappointed. However, here she is much more enjoyable and fits the role better.

I loved the sets and how they moved the staircases around. A standout moment was when they constructed the interior prior during the song about being a normal family. The puppetry was better than I thought, and the curtain use was very effective.

There were several jokes that worked. I really laughed quite a bit. But as a whole, not a strong piece. It definitely made for a fun evening though.

[philly03]

Posted: 6/27/10 at 1:41pm

" Lippa's score is a mess and, for me, the main reason the show doesn't work."

I agree. Lippa's score fails on all parts. The music is unmemorable, not pleasant and repeats models of songs of his own in the show that aren't even that good. The lyrics are banal as said above, and are full of those dumb rhymes.

Perhaps if Lippa had only written the lyrics it could have worked, but the music is so terrible. Some of the jokes are funny, others aren't, and someone pointed this out in an earlier thread - the Addams Family is/was timeless, and with this piece (& specifically Lippa's lyrics) he makes them modern with the modern references.


The set and cast are incredible. It seems the Broadway changes were written for this original cast, and honestly, I'll be surprised who they get to replace someone like Bebe... her song "Just Around the Corner" is the highlight of the score for me (and honestly, I think it's very overlooked by most people), but I can't imagine anyone else carrying that song the way she does. Obviously Lane carries his own, and people like Jackie Hoffman will be hard to replace as well.

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 6/27/10 at 1:46pm

I liked the gate set piece and Jackie Hoffman.

[Katarina2]

Posted: 6/27/10 at 3:20pm

To preface this: I only saw the Chicago production. When I saw it, I really enjoyed the show. I thought that the set was lovely, and I liked the music. However, I felt that Jackie Hoffman's character was a bit overdone. Also, some of the inside Addams jokes were a little annoying. Overall, though, it was an enjoyable evening!

[Bwaynerd]

Posted: 6/27/10 at 8:56pm

i agree with zepka102

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 6/27/10 at 11:40pm

For me the pluses were the stars, and the sets. But the book is a mess, unfocused and wildly uneven. Andrew Lippa is the wrong composer for this show. Someone suggested Marc Shaiman, and I agree he would have been a better choice.

Good source material wasted on an inferior product.


But the audience around me were having a great time, and I'm glad. I guess it is a tourist show and not a critics show.

[Nickhutson]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 4:22pm

Written from a British Point of View.

Really, really badly written and conceived production. The production (physical) itself was very good - with some delightful technical aspects to the show, but - it's a mess generally. The music is weak, the lyrics not funny enough, the story (La Cage retold) weak and the pacing of the show is off.

The biggest crime is that they totally mis understand the concept of the Addams family being that the family find themselves to be normal, and the rest of the world to be abnormal. In this version, they are reverting to normality for the "normal" family from Ohio.

I have a feeling the script is incredibly butchered from Chicago - for as soon as the (strong) opening number is over, we are hurled into the story of Wednesday's Ohian boyfriend coming to visit, and the Addams immediately commence their attempt to gain normality. The play's entire story can be told in the 2nd act. In the first act I'd like to have seen the Addams revel in their apparent every day normalcies. There are glimmers of this scattered throughout the production - but not nearly enough.

The score, however, is the most disappointing aspect of the show. I have respect for Lippa, but I don't think he has the gurth and humour to carry out an iconic project such as this. 90% of the songs are utterly forgettable and the choice of styles make no sense in relation to character, and the lyrics - whilst should be humorous - are littered with cliched metaphors and similes. Shame. I think that Whittmann and Shaiman should be the team chosen to do Addams (let's not forget Shaiman's delightful scores for the first two Addams' movies).

The cast were good - but so they should be at $120 a ticket - so, I am not going to comment on them. They're just vastly underused. It's a big shame.

The show will need MAJOR reworking before it ever comes here. I don't see it coming here in its present state. The book is littered with far too many US current political and social references to work for a British audience - and the family are too American to be able to make any British references in the script. I don't think the book writers would be good enough to make it work for a true worldwide audience, as the Addams are too much part of American culture.

The show has a future, because of the advance and a US tour - but, it's just a shame it's a completely wasted opportunity for, what could be, a wonderful musical - which instead falls flat on its face.

Updated On: 6/28/10 at 04:22 PM

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 4:38pm

I think it was cute an hilarious, and pretty true to the original feel of Addams' cartoons, but I agree that Lippa's score is pretty weak. (save for happy/sad)

[twinbelters]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 5:05pm

I saw it in Chicago previews, fyi. I really like and agree with this:

"The show will need MAJOR reworking before it ever comes here. I don't see it coming here in its present state. The book is littered with far too many US current political and social references to work for a British audience - and the family are too American to be able to make any British references in the script. I don't think the book writers would be good enough to make it work for a true worldwide audience, as the Addams are too much part of American culture. "

The things I have always appreciated about Charles Addams' The Addams Family is they are universally translatable, timeless, and present a unique dark dry wit--not out loud guffaw humor like they are selling in the musical. Even the movies were on the dry side. I think a British writing team could have had more success bringing that out.

Basically, I left the theater asking myself, "This is all Broadway professionals could do with an Addams Family musical!?" It had no justification for existing, and completely betrayed what makes the Addams what they are.

I could have forgiven that if the musical had been at least fun or funny, but it never took off. Plus, the story is as predictable as can be and except for "In The Arms" the score was pedestrian and forgettable.

Puppetry and sets are impressive of course, and the cast is more than capable, but both are in service of some weak material. Bah! Disappointing.

The pop-culture and political gags really annoy me. This is how you appeal to audiences now? Is Spiderman going to make references to American Idol and Prop 8 to get by? Musicals and adaptations in general just never need to go there. I so much more appreciate when a fiction creates its own popular culture.

Updated On: 6/28/10 at 05:05 PM

[shrekster224]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 5:06pm

zepka102, you really didn't like Kyrsta as Vanessa? She has the vocal chops to do it, but I guess I see what you mean. She was a great Nina though, but all and all, Wednesday is a perfect role for her.

My overall thoughts were pretty positive actually. I actually enjoyed the show, and many of your points are true. Act two has much less to offer than act one, with Death is Just Around the Corner, Moon and Me, Happy/Sad, and Crazier than You aside. Woah I just realized those are the first four songs of the act, so I guess you could say it went down hill from there.

The cast is great, I actually don't think the music is all that bad, except for one major problem I have with it. Many of you may disagree, but I didn't think Terrance Mann was good at all. In the Arms was terribly boring, and I know they wanted to give him solos because of his credits, but it didn't do anything to make it his own, even though he's originating the role. I'm going again and Merwin Foard is set to be on as Mal, so maybe someone else will give the character a different twist, I don't know. Updated On: 6/28/10 at 05:06 PM

[newintown]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 5:09pm

I've never heard anyone say that they were looking forward to seeing Merwin Foard...

[shrekster224]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 5:12pm

Should I not be looking forward to seeing him?

Did anyone go to the Chicago shows when he was on as Gomez?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 5:29pm

I saw the show in Chicago and not having been previously impressed by Lippa's work, the score was as unfortunate as I feared. From what I heard on the CD, the score improved very little from the Chicago tryout. I liked the sets, costumes, Hoffman, Chamberlin and a couple of the songs were okay, which was about as notable as anything from the score could be. The Song to the Moon number was the one truly wonderful moment in the entire show. Had the rest of the show taken on that kind of creativity and ingenuity, it could have been funny, touching and visually stunning. But for me, that one number wasn't good enough. And I was shaking my head at Full Disclosure. Nothing about it worked in any way. I couldn't figure out what the creative team were thinking.

[mallardo]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 9:21pm

"I've never heard anyone say that they were looking forward to seeing Merwin Foard..."

ROFL!! newintown, that's the best line of the month - maybe the year - on this board.

[lakezurich]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 9:32pm

I saw it while the show was in Chicago. While it wasn't a great show by any stretch I still found it extremely entertaining. I LOVED the use of the curtain, especially the run-away tassel part. And I loved the rest of the set as well. As far as the songs go I liked "Pulled, and LOVED Full Disclosure. But, I thought The Moon And Me was a piece of s***. Sure it looked nice. But the song was just awful, and did nothing for the story as well.

Well, there's my two cents.

[darquegk]

Posted: 6/29/10 at 10:11am

It's funny that people have both claimed that the Addamses are either "not American enough" or "too American" in this stage production. However, that may have something to do with making sure the tone is not too much like the film, where the musical (sadly) wanted to strike out on its own merits. It was never quite established before (other than the original TV series) if anyone knew where exactly the Addamses were even from.

In the film, the adults of the family were played with a sort of untraceable Continental accent. One could not tell entirely where they were from. Raul Julia's Gomez liberally mixed a Spanish, British and Russian accent together with a touch of Brooklyn to create Gomez's flamboyant and almost Shakespearean voice. Nathan Lane just does a silly Fernando The Great voice.

[zepka102]

Posted: 6/29/10 at 10:25am

Shrekster, I felt that she didn't have the emotion Vanessa needs to have. People complain Marcy is too harsh, but I felt she was closer than Krysta was. Vocally she wasn't bad, but I didn't find anything in her Vanessa that would attract Usnavi to her. I really enjoyed her as Wednesday though. She's a perfect fit for it.

[TheKandyLife]

Posted: 6/29/10 at 10:51am

Personally When I seen the show...i LOVED the score...i thought it was very catchy. but just like every single show there is and that i have seen (Phantom, Les Mis, Little Mermaid, Wicked, The Producers, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Aida, Avenue Q, Gypsy, Next To Normal...to name a few there's about 50/60 more lol) they all have the threw away songs, Addams, to me had "Where did we go wrong?" "What If?" "In the arms" and "Move Toawrds The Darkness" BUT...on saying that, i understand why there are still in the show...like the other songs for the other shows, they all have their reasons.

I loved the story line, and people saying its "la Cage" retold? uuurrrmmm no it wasn't. La Cage has one of the leads in drag to be the "mother" figure of the family, where is that in the Addams? and yes it's the old "meet the parents" family story but, it is a funny storyline, where almost anything can happen (i head butted my boyfriends mum the moment i walked through the door...and it didnt end there haha) and things do happen.

EVERYONE had their own idea for the show, like what they wanted the characters to look like, what they wanted to songs to be, what they wanted out of the story etc etc...the point is, again like every show, no show will ever please everybody. I'm just glad im a huge Addams fan, and wasn't dissappointed =D lol

[matty159]

Posted: 6/29/10 at 10:57am

Despite everything I have heard, I am really looking forward to seeing it (hopefully tomorrow - going to stop by the box office this afternoon to pick up a ticket). I have the recording enjoy it for the most part...I am hoping it is one of those that takes on new meaning from its context when seen.