Review Roundup: THE ADDAMS FAMILY National Tour

Currently playing Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre is the national tour of The Addams Family, which  features an original story and it's every father's nightmare. Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family. A man her parents have never met. And if that weren't upsetting enough, she confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he's never done before - keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday's "normal" boyfriend and his parents.

Joining Tony Award® nominee Douglas Sills as Gomez and Sara Gettelfinger as Morticia are Tony Award® nominee Martin Vidnovic as Mal Beineke, two-time Tony Award® nominee Crista Moore as Alice Beineke, Blake Hammond as Uncle Fester, Pippa Pearthreeas Grandma, Tom Corbeil as Lurch, Patrick D. Kennedy as Pugsley, Brian Justin Crum as Lucas Beineke and Cortney Wolfson as Wednesday.

For more information on The Addams Family, visit www.theaddamsfamilymusicaltour.com.

Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune: "The Addams Family" is not the first musical whose first national tour has been infinitely better than the Broadway production that gave it birth: such past shows as "Big" and "The Civil War" were also greatly improved. But in most of these rare cases, different directors have retooled existing material. It’s hard to think of another show that has been revised so heavily and, for the most part, successfully, by its admirably indefatigable original authors and composer.

Richard Ouzounian, Toronto.com: This wackily entertaining musical, which opened for Dancap Productions on Wednesday night at the Toronto Centre for the Arts, had a rough time during its Chicago tryout and Broadway run, earning a lot of unkind words, especially from critics like me. But it’s actually a joy to eat those words now in light of the warm-hearted (if cold-blooded) fun that’s up there on the stage to enjoy.

Torontosceneto: From the second the orchestra began with the familiar da da da dum snap snap the audience was captivated and ready to laugh. The show is full of humor and innuendoes and use current events to add more humor and laughter. There was raucous applause to end a wonderful evening. This is a must see fabulous macabre new musical comedy created by Jersey Boys authors Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice.

Grant Golden, Buffalo Rising: The cast is filled with spunky, talented performers, intent on putting over a decidedly weak show. Douglas Sills, while too handsome to play Gomez, provides flash and dash as the Latin patriarch who is mad for his wife and his own incessant quips. Sarah Gettelfinger is Gothic perfection as the elegant Morticia, in a black dress "cut down to Venezuela". Courtney Wolfson's rebellious Wednesday is fetching, easy to take. 

Allan Gould, Post City: If you go to musicals primarily for the music and lyrics, this production is going to leave you hungry. While Andrew Lippa is a respected composer and lyricist, there is probably not more than one or two songs which will stay in your head, and you will have little desire to run out and buy the CD. But many of his words are marvelously comic, worthy of standing next to some of the best lines from the Brickman/Elice script.

On the Go in TO: The first act zips along with a great energy and great comedic timing. It’s the second act that loses a little bit of steam as it becomes more concerned with wrapping up its story than still delivering great comedic situations. Regardless, this is a very fun night at the theatre watching a delightful cast blistering with chemistry that are aided by a very funny script.

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