The Addams Family: Review

Simply say “The Addams Family,’’ and fingers start snapping. The Addams Family was first introduced to America in Charles Addams' 1938 The New Yorker cartoon strip, where the characters spookily entertained readers for fifty years. In 1964, they came to life on the campy television sitcom, and again for movies of the 1990s. Now, they're back winning over a new generation with a Broadway musical, a finger-snapping, belly-laughing, fun-filled production running through July 8 at Starlight, where it perfectly made its Kansas City debut under the light of a full moon. 

The Addams Family

• July 3 - 8 at 8 p.m. Buy Tickets online
• Starlight Theatre. Driving directions to Starlight Theatre and Parking Information for Starlight.

They're creepy and they're kooky,Mysterious and spooky,They're all together ooky,The Addams Family.Their house is a museumWhere people come to see 'emThey really are a screamThe Addams Family.So get a witch's shawl onA broomstick you can crawl onWe're gonna pay a call onThe Addams Family.

When the show first hit Broadway it was panned by critics. Thanks to successful revamping of the show with the addition of new songs the touring production is winning the hearts of Americans who first fell in love with the creepy, kooky family. You know the Addams as the wealthy, eccentric family with a penchant for the macabre. Moreover, they are famously unaware that anyone else would find their love of torture devices, an electric uncle (who can light a light bulb merely by placing it in his mouth), a hand for a servant, and dreams of dying to be peculiar and creepy. This all changes in the musical when Wednesday falls in love with an ordinary boy from Ohio and discovers, as love-struck teens are apt to do, that her family is downright odd. In one of the best songs of the show, she pleads with her family for, "One Normal Night" to impress her soon to be in-laws who possess conventional and ordinary Ohioan ways. Her family reluctantly agree with a caveat, her mother Morticia insists that they abide by family tradition and play "the game." The game leads to a complete unraveling of the plot as each family member's secrets and emotions about Wednesday's coming of age and their own lot in life are explored. Like any parents, the Addams' wrestle with emotions of joy and sadness as their offspring are growing up. Pugsley, Wednesday's oft tortured (much to his delight), brother laments the loss of his older sister. Uncle Fester enlists the aid of ancestors risen from the grave to help romance blossom. And Gomez and Morticia struggle with their own relationship as they face Wednesday's engagement.

Known for creepy, kooky antics, the production lives up to the audience's expectations with hysterical effects and spooky one-liners.

The cast portrays our favorite mysterious and spooky family well. Douglas Sills portrays Gomez as a slick-tongued Castilian romantic with an amazing singing voice and one of the best solos of the production. Sara Gettelfinger is the domineering mother who dreams of a romantic death as Morticia. Cortney Wolfson's Wednesday fabulously holds onto the crazy and outlandish behavior we have come to expect from the pale-faced little girl, while growing up and forging new ground as a girl in love. Blake Hammond lights up the stage (literally and figuratively) as Uncle Fester; for fans of the show, his was the most spot-on performance of the night. Pippa Pearthree is the lovable and quirky Grandma... even if we aren't quite sure whose grandma she is. Patrick D. Kennedy portrays a fantastic Pugsley who honestly wrestles with his sister's new romance. And Tom Corbeil perfectly portrays Lurch.... we did however wish for a few notes from the harpsichord. Cousin Itt and Thing bring some of the best laughs of the night... don't ever take your eyes off the stage, they appear when least expected!

The show is delightfully campy in its spooky, kooky humor, full of fun songs that keep the plot moving, and portrayed delightful by a ghoulishly talented cast. Fans of The Addams Family will love this production!

Tips:

• Keep Hydrated and cool: You may bring 1 sealed bottle of water per guest into the theatre. Complimentary water stations are located at the North and East Guest Relations. Water misters are placed throughout the theatre for guest convenience. And, Starlight has drinking fountains throughout the theatre. You may also want to bring a fan too keep cool.
• Determining if your Child should see the show: From Starlight,"Is Addams Family Good for Kids? Despite talk of death, sexual innuendo and physical suffering, The Addams Family is perfect for kids. First Lady Michelle Obama brought her two daughters to the show; if that’s not a seal of approval, what is?" So, what is included in "talk of death, innuendo, and suffering?" The Addams Family Musical, like the cartoon, television, and film that bore the name, is built on the macabre. The Addams' ancestors return from the grave (as comedic sidekicks for Uncle Fester and the family throughout songs and dances), numerous jokes about death and dying are included in the script, and Morticia sings about death. Sexual innuendo is sprinkled throughout the script both in song lyrics and jokes, Morticia's dress is very revealing (Gomez states that it is, "Cut down to Venezuela." - as parents it disappointed us that the costuming was so provocative.), Grandma sings of her desires, etc. Physical suffering occurs as Wednesday tortures Pugsley (to his delight), Gomez shows his collection of torture devices to Mr. Beineke, and Wednesday uses her crossbow throughout including a love ballad, "Crazier than You," in which she shoots an apple off the head of her fiance while blindfolded. Armed with that information and appropriate bedtime plans, parents may decide if their children are ready. The show begins at 8pm and runs for 2 hours and 35 minutes. 
• July 4 Performance Fireworks: On July 4, enjoy a fireworks celebration immediately following the performance!
• Booster seats: A limited supply of complimentary booster seats is available at our Ovation gift store. Please drop your booster seat off at any gate, Guest relations table or return it to the Ovation gift store after the show.
• Preshow Tours: Arrive early and get a free, behind-the-scenes look at Starlight and learn about Starlight’s rich history in Kansas City. Tours begin before each performance at three convenient times: 6:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Patrons interested in touring Starlight Theatre should report to the top of the theatre behind Terrace Section 1 to begin their facility tours. 
• Interpreted Performances: Saturday performances at Starlight Theatre are described for the blind and visually impaired by Kansas Audio-Reader Network. Devices for this service are available at the Audio-Reader table behind Terrace Section 2. Sunday performances at Starlight Theatre are interpreted for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. Two interpreters are positioned on stage, house right. Patrons can view the interpreters from sections 4 and 6 of the Orchestra and Plaza sections. Deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons may purchase tickets by calling the Kansas Relay Center at 800.766.3777 or Relay Missouri at 800.735.2966. 
• Assisted listening devices: Assisted listening devices are available free of charge for every performance. Visit the Ovation gift store and leave your driver's license in exchange for one of the listening devices. Following the performance, please return the device to the store and pick up your ID.
• Courtesy shuttles: This summer six-passenger shuttles patrol the main parking areas, providing assistance for those who most need it.
• Wheelchair assistance: Wheelchair assistance is available from all gates to the guest's seating location and back to the gate point after the show.
• Emergencies: An EMT is on Starlight premises for all events and can be reached by radio through any of the contacts noted above. 
• Preshow Dining: A delicious dinner buffet is offered before the show. Learn more about preshow dining.