The Addams Family

A Musical in 2 Acts: Music - Andrew Lippa; Lyrics - Andrew Lippa; Book - Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice based on Charles Addams' comic strip The Addams Family

Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, Broadway - April 8th, 2010 - 31 December. 2011 (35 previews, 725 perfs)

Official Addams Family Musical website

Summary

It’s a dismal day at the Addams family’s manse, with the ever-approaching storm clouds reflecting the gloomy atmosphere that has beset the household. Daughter Wednesday, now eighteen years old, has found herself experiencing a surprising new sensation, one that frightens both her and her family: she has fallen in love. Lucas Beineke, the object of her affections, comes from a seemingly normal family, and he and his parents Mal and Alice are on their way to the Addams’ estate to become better acquainted with the family over dinner. Brother Pugsley, who has been largely ignored since Wednesday’s involvement with Lucas, begins to miss the attention his sister previously paid to him and pleads with her to torture him once more. Meanwhile, mother Morticia finds herself conflicted over her ever-maturing daughter’s newfound feelings, while oblivious father Gomez simply wishes things would remain the way they were. As they learn to relate to the Beinekes and cope with Wednesday’s romance, one thing is certain: the Addams family will never be the same.

Story:

Act One

The show opens with the Addams family revealing Wednesday has come of age. She emerges from a coffin, has her braids cut off and agrees to the family traditions, which includes a mate who must be chosen for his honesty and passion.

Uncle Fester, taking the role of narrator, tells us that Wednesday, under protest, has invited her new boyfriend Lucas Beineke and his parents, Mal and Alice to dinner, where they will play "The Game". While torturing Pugsley on a rack, Wednesday admits that she is having strange feelings of love and compassion for the first time in her life. As dinner approaches, Gomez swears his love for Morticia. Wednesday, in turn, fears humiliation by her family in front of Lucas's parents, just as the Beinekes arrive. Wednesday upsets her family by wearing a yellow dress similar to Alice's.

Lucas and Wednesday, away from their families, profess their passion. Gomez and Mal share a drink where Mal is introduced to Beatrice, the family's giant pet squid, and Alice admits to Morticia that her marriage to Mal has grown passionless. Gomez and Morticia explain they meet every night for a Tango, in order to keep their love alive. Morticia hears Wednesday call her old and worries she's getting crows' feet. Meanwhile, Pugsley is worried that Wednesday's growing heart means she won't torture him anymore. He steals a potion from Grandma Addams after she reveals it will bring out someone's dark nature. Pugsley plans to slip it to Wednesday at dinner in the hopes that she'll break up with Lucas.

At dinner, "The Game" is played, where each member of the dinner table tells a secret. Gomez tells a story about scaring away crows and their feet, but upsets Morticia by accidentally comparing her to a goat. Uncle Fester admits he's in love with the moon. In a mix-up, Alice drinks Pugsley's potion and in front of everyone declares her marriage to Mal a loveless mess. As a furious Mal attempts to leave with his family, Wednesday declares she and Lucas are getting married, to which a stunned Lucas sheepishly agrees, just as a storm hits the mansion forcing the Beinekes to spend the night.

Act Two

During the storm, Wednesday tries to leave, but Lucas wants to stay and work things out with their families. This leads to the pair having their first fight. Later, Morticia fears she is being replaced by Wednesday and is no longer relevant to her own family. Pugsley asks his mother if there is a monster under the bed. She tells him there is and he relaxes but cannot bring himself to confess what he did to Alice. Moments later, an alligator emerges from under Pugsley's bed and crawls off stage with the bed on its back.

Walking out in the yard, Wednesday runs into Gomez. He is happy she's found someone to love, yet sad that his daughter is growing up. Gomez leaves after Lucas returns. Wednesday worries that they are too different. Then as a show of trust, Lucas blindfolds Wednesday and lets her shoot an apple off his head with her crossbow. She succeeds and the two embrace. Uncle Fester calls for an interlude as he plays his banjo, singing a love song to the Moon.

In the cellar, Gomez and Fester attempt to get Mal to open up about his feelings, to no avail. He's ultimately kidnapped by Bernice and pulled into the sewers. Alice, envious of Gomez and Morticia's love, asks Gomez to teach her how to tango. He complies, but Morticia arrives and sees this as a sign of infidelity. Gomez and Morticia engage in a sword fight, where she tells him she hates him. He counters that she loves him. The two go back and forth, before realizing love and hate are two sides of the same coin and they kiss and begin to tango.

The cast reunites on stage as Mal returns from the sewers. He's learned to appreciate what he has after spending time in the arms of a passionate squid and announces he still loves Alice. With all the couples reunited, Pugsley admits to slipping the potion to Alice, but is congratulated since it brought everyone together. Uncle Fester, wearing a rocket, tells everyone he's flying off to be with the moon. As the families sing one last ballad they are all shocked as Lurch sings out loud for the first time ever, just as a puff of smoke is seen on the moon, signaling Fester has just landed.

Musical Numbers

  1. Overture - Orchestra
  2. When You're an Addams - The Addams Family, Ancestors
  3. Pulled - Wednesday, Pugsley
  4. Where Did We Go Wrong - Morticia, Gomez
  5. One Normal Night - Ancestors
  6. Morticia - Gomez, Male Ancestors
  7. What If? - Pugsley, Grandmama
  8. Full Disclosure - The Company
  9. Waiting - Alice
  10. Full Disclosure (reprise) - The Company
  11. Just Around the Corner - Morticia, Ancestors
  12. The Moon and Me - Uncle Fester
  13. Happy/Sad - Gomez
  14. Crazier Than You - Lucas, Wednesday
  15. Let's Not Talk About Anything Else But Love - Mal, Gomez, Uncle Fester, Grandmama
  16. In The Arms - Mal, Alice
  17. Live Before We Die - Gomez, Morticia
  18. Tango de Amor - Gomez, Morticia, Ancestors
  19. Move Toward The Darkness - Full Company

Cast

Original Cast Recording