THE ADDAMS FAMILY A REVIEW

This one sounded like a natural. I mean, how can you go wrong? A musical based on the lovable, off-beat characters created by the great cartoonist/humorist Charles Addams, a book by the very capable authors of "Jersey Boys", two ticket selling stars and a well regarded composer/lyricst. It surely sounded like it would be the highlight of the season, a genuinly popular smash hit.
Well, the show has arrived and were my instincts right? Of course not, because if ever a good idea for a musical has been bungled this is the show.The musical in question is THE ADDAMS FAMILY,and considering all the hard work that went into it, what has emerged is [to put mildly] a disappointingly limp musical, put together without any wit or sparkle.
Mr. Addams' lovable characters were the basis for a successful t.v. show and two popular motion pictures, but they were just characters. There was never any real plot development or emotional pull,so the book writers Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice have invented a story concerning the daughter of household who wants to bring her boyfriend and his parents home to meet the family. Sound familier? Just like "La Cage Aux Folles",only that was told with wit and passion. Mr. Brickman and Mr. Elice have substituted lame jokes and woefully embarrasing dialog. They are not helped at all by Andrew Lippa's relentlessly routine music and schoolboy lyrics, and even Larry Hochman's fine orchestrations can't lift most of the songs out of the trash basket.
The show started out with two Englishmen, Phelim McDermott and Julian Crouch directing and designing the scenery and costumes,but it's common knowledge that Jerry Zaks was called in during the stormy out of town tryout[ taking creative consultant billing] and his work is fine considering the material he is working with.
Nathan Lane works like a coal heaver to put over his material, but the odds are almost insurmountable, even with his considerable talent,and Bebe Newirth is saddled with a poorly conceived role and substandard material.
So, while THE ADDAMS FAMILY is not the horror it was made out to be, it is all the same, a well meaning botch. By the way, I did leave the theatre humming one tune, but not one of Mr.
Lippa's originals. It was Vic Mizzy's catchy theme from the t.v. show.
At THE LUNT-FONTANNE THEATRE 205 WEST 46th STREET N.Y.C.