"THE ADDAMS FAMILY"
at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater
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I could tell you that the libretto is not great, and neither is the score. And that is true. But in the end, it's not going to matter that much. "The Addams Family" boasts honest-to-god musical-comedy stars: Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth.
And if the material they've been given to work with isn't first-rate, it is serviceable. And it is family-friendly. And familiar. And they will find as much fun as anyone could find in the script and songs--more than anyone could reasonably expect to find. In addition, this show boasts as strong a supporting cast as any musical comedy in years.
The bottom line is that, despite a less-than-ideal script and score, Nathan Lane, Bebe Neuwirth and company are going to draw an audience. And audience members will indeed be entertained. Is it a musical for the ages? Hardly. But it's great to have Lane, Neuwirth and their cohorts on stage again.
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The script (by the authors of "Jersey Boys," Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice) is gag-filled, if not particularly imaginative or well-constructed.
The eccentric, ghoulish Addams Family must interract with conservative, buttoned-down members of regular society (a basic theme that was explored much better in "La Cage").
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| Bebe Neuwirth and Nathan Lane in "The Addams Family." |
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| Supporting the show's stars, Lane and Neuwirth, are such wonderfully funny character actors as Kevin Chamberlain ("Uncle Fester") and Jackie Hoffman ("Grandma"); you can't ask for better than that. Andrew Lippa's score is pleasant and easy to take, if not top-drawer.
The well-remembered "Addams Family" TV show, and the famous cartoons by Charles Addams upon which the TV show was based, give this musical comedy a good start in attracting an audience.
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Word-of-mouth about this production should be favorable, too, because it's got a lot of star-power. My hunch is the show will do pretty well at the box-office--for at least as long as the original stars stay with it.
--Rob Adams
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