With inventive jokes, macabre set design, sonorous vocals, and stellar cast, The Addams Family truly captures the spirit and humor of its sitcom base as a Broadway musical.

The show begins with the familiar Addams Family theme, complete with spot-lighted character introduction and a myriad of finger snapping. After accentuating the eccentric nature of the family, the plot follows the love story of Wednesday Addams (Krysta Rodriguez) and Lucas Beineke (Wesley Taylor) as they attempt to gain recognition of their feelings from their parents. Wednesday’s family can be lightly described as eccentrically urban, while Lucas’s family is the paradigm of a work-to-do, suburban American household. As the musical progresses, the conflict-resolution sequence reveals the common thematic conflict of love between people of different family backgrounds, with quirky side-love-stories of Uncle Fester (Kevin Chamberlin) and his unrequited love of the moon, of the Addams parents (Nathan Lane, Bebe Neuwirth)., and of the Beineke parents (Terrence Mann , Carolee Carmello).

Although building on a cliché theme, The Addams Family offers a refreshing, slightly peculiar, taste of the long-lived recipe. The witty humor of the script incorporated with the Addams Family signature style of “creepiness” provides an appeal to all audiences; not relying on the crude and the vulgar, but rather, appealing to intelligence. A wide range of jokes are covered, from political, to historical, to sexual, to news-related, and even impromptu add-ins by the actors.

The musical score is original and catchy, offering both funny-bone and auditory appeasement. Living up to the reputation of Broadway, the actors did not disappoint in vocal power and range. Even Lurch’s (Zachary James) gauche musical grunting offered depth and strength in sound.

The actors themselves embodied their characters perfectly, reminiscent both in appearance and behavior to their television counterparts.

Brilliant use of set design and lighting facilitated the performance, and greatly enhanced the perceived eeriness of the Addams household. The varied shades of grey and brown oddly enough, offered a florid, detailed view of the old dilapidated house, rather than appear drab and detestable. Lastly, the versatile pieces of furniture could be moved and transformed quickly to fit a new scene.

The only disappointment of the play would be for Cousin It fans. The Addams hairy relative was offered only about a total of 15 seconds of stardom, then disappearing behind the curtain, as would befit a minor character.

Overall, The Addams Family offers an enjoyable, unique show fit for audiences of all ages, and it will get the fingers snapping. However, the humor may be more apprehensible by older audiences as children may not understand the references the script writer chooses to make.
I would give The Addams Family two thumbs up, and invite all to see it.