The Addams Family Arrives at the Adrienne Arsht Center October 27-30, 2011

In the spirit of this years Halloween season one of televisions and movies most popular and unusual families is dropping by for a visit at the Adrienne Arsht Center. The Broadway version of the Addams Family may not be arriving on a witches broom stick but they're sure to conjure up some wonderfully spooky festivities. The production does carry with it all the charm from the TV shows theme song which opens the show; you remember that catchy finger-snapping little ditty - creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky - plus a little bit more. It is a show for the entire family.

The storyline for the production is not only clever but also ties in wonderfully to the modern day family experience. The characters though they may seem familiar are based more on the work of cartoonist Charles Addams than the 1960's over-the-top-camp television show starring John Astin, Carolyn Jones and Jackie Coogan. Wednesday (played by Courtney Wolfson) falls in love with a "normal" Ohio boy, Lucas Beineke (Brian Justin Crum). A trip to the altar is in their future but only if they receive the blessings from both families. There is another catch however. Wednesday asks papa Gomez, wonderfully played by Tony Award-nominated Douglas Sills ("The Scarlet Pimpernel") to keep a secret and not tell mother Morticia, Sara Gettelfinger (Cruella De Vil in "101 Dalmations"). You may find yourself asking, "What's the problem?" Gomez has never lied to or kept a secret from Morticia, ever. Meanwhile Pugsley, Wednesday's little brother (Patrick D. Kennedy) has plans of his own to break up the happy couple in order to get Wednesday to continue torturing him the way she always has, stretching him on a rack seems to be a favorite of the young lad. His solo "What If," adds a bit of mischievous fun and proves that this young man can belt out a tune with the best of them. Let's face it this isn't the families from "I Love Lucy" or "Father Knows Best."

The script is a fun romp with inside and maybe not so inside jokes and references. Sills as Gomez is a wonderfully commanding head of household. Nathan Lane also played the same part on Broadway and Raul Julia was brilliant in the film versions. Sills takes the stage with vim and vigor; his voice filled the hall with a rich warm tone. He is a scene stealer. Not to be outdone, Gettelfinger is a mesmerizing Morticia. She glides across the stage in her purple and black form fitting dress with. Her voice is beautiful and resonates throughout the hall. The entire cast is enticing and adds their own personal flair to the characters. The highlight of the first act is the family dinner scene where both the Addams and Beineke clans play a game titled "Full Disclosure." Picture playing "Truth or Dare," without the dare and you've got the idea. Everyone who drinks from a chalice must divulge a dark secret never told before. I'm sure you can only imagine how bad an idea this is but it's an Addams family tradition. Try playing the same game with your family this Thanksgiving around the dinner table.

Blake Hammond is hysterical as the odd by loveable Uncle Fester and steals the spotlight on more than one occasion. He also acts as the narrator for much of the show. His solo in the second act, "The Moon and Me," is wonderfully sweet, touching and fun to watch. He soars through the air and dances with the moon high in the sky. It's a great and memorable moment in the show. Martin Vidnovic and Christa Moore are very believable as the unsuspecting Mr. and Mrs. Beineke. Grandma Addams and Lurch have the ghoulish look down to an art (Pippa Pearthree and Tom Corbeil), as do additional cast members billed as "The Addams Ancestors." ( Ted Ely, Karla Garcia, Steve Geary, Victoria Huston-Elem, Patrick Oliver Jones, Lizzie Klemperer, Alexandra Matteo, Christy Morton, Brad Nacht, Rebecca Riker, Jonathan Ritter, Roland Rusinek, Geo Seery, Samantha Shafer and Jason Eric Testa) They're ghostly costumes and pale white make-up give them the appearance of those haunts just raised from the local cemetery, which by the way they were. What a festive gang they make kicking up their heels during the dance numbers. It is Halloween after all.

The staging, scenery, fog machine and strobe lights are all top notch and add the perfect atmosphere to the production. Under the direction of Jerry Zaks, the musical numbers are engaging and fun. The choreography by Sergio Trujillo is great and Gomez and Morticia's "Tango de Amor," is romantic with a bit of spice sprinkled in the mix, especially since they're performing the dance of love in a graveyard. If you're looking for something different to do this Halloween season The Addams Family at the Arsht Center is just the ticket you've been looking for so bring the entire family. You're bound to have a wonderfully ghoulish time.

Photo by Jeremy Daniel

Pippa Pearthree (Grandma), Tom Corbeil (Lurch), Douglas Sills (Gomez), Cortney Wolfson (Wednesday), Sara Gettelfinger (Morticia), Blake Hammond (Uncle Fester) and Patrick D. Kennedy (Pugsley)