★★★ REVIEW: The Addams Family (West End) | musical concert starring Michelle Visage, Ramin Karimloo

[@bsoulnemo6627]

I dont know how I consider myself a musical theatre fan and apparently knew nothing about this musical before seeing it live last week. I had an absolute BLAST, Ramin Karimloo is just a dream, I felt how in love with his wife he was, how proud of his children he was, and how conflicted he was about lying. I thought he was hilarious, and tbh I thought this would be a simple concert with some costumes. I was so happily surprised with how advanced it was with all the props, acting, and costumes. Not letting my love of Ramin get in the way, i thought this was just such a fun time and would love to see it again.

[@PS-DLMA]

Check out who the OG Broadway cast was.....Nathan Lane (Gomez), Bebe Neuwirth (Morticia), Jackie Hoffman (Granny), Krysta Rodriguez (Wednesday) and more (apologies for bad spelling on name)

[@chocolatesouljah]

@@PS-DLMAlove the spelling but your positive vibes even more!

[@chuckoneill2023]

The original production did the Pre-Broadway run in my hometown, I'm sad I missed it (though I understand it has been substantially rewritten since). I'd go see this production, if I wasn't on the other side of an ocean...

[@IshScout]

It really feels like these "concerts" are more & more to test waters for potential futures of these properties. Even if that doesn't end up being the case it really is the perfect way to give these shows another spotlight with limited risk involved.

[@eristineforever6934]

I want the cast recording so bad only because it has Ramin Karimloo - my favorite stage actor and my favorite Phantom.

[@xingcat]

I am old enough to have seen Michelle way back when Seduction went on tour with a bunch of other acts in the 80s, and her singing voice was really quite good back then, so I'm pleased to hear she's still able to pull off a good performance. Addams Family isn't my favorite musical, for all the reasons you mention, but I think any kind of macabre musical theater is something to celebrate, as it's so out of the norm. I love Beetlejuice for much the same reason (though that's a much more fun musical, in my eyes).

[@22joshbb]

she’s like, genuinely a good singer. I remember hearing her at Christmas queens for the first time and being so shocked. I went down a Michelle visage rabbit hole that night and saw so much of her old work in the community, she’s always been for the gays. Hell she even was in the ballroom scene.

[@rebeccam2553]

You're so right - that programme is ridiculously big! And at £15 it was SO overpriced!! Kara Lane got the biggest applause of the night, I thought. She was phenomenal and a real stand-out performance. I think you put it perfectly, it was decent and enjoyable. I wouldn't rush back to watch it again, but if I was enjoying the show more than begrudging the legroom of the balcony then it was worth seeing.

[@rebeccam2553]

Ah, you're right, sorry! I still think that's too expensive...@@LesleyWells-ic6up

[@luctownend2514]

​@@LesleyWells-ic6upstill extortionate for not that good a programme, the only time I've felt justified in buying a £12 was Sondheim's Old Friends where it was a whole book celebrating him not a flimsy little thinf

[@rebeccam2553]

@@luctownend2514 Yes, it was just a few pages with pictures of the cast, but nothing really interesting in it...

[@luctownend2514]

@@rebeccam2553 yes I agree rlly not worth it!

[@tyrellhamilton2502]

Love your Wednesday top! I always look for the reference

[@christopherbutler1980]

Is it true that Mr. K is doing Pirates of Penzance on BWAY?

[@fashionablechangeling1988]

Yes, in April 2025

[@PS-DLMA]

Yes, with David Hyde Pearce as Major General Stanley

[@MissLizaMay]

I love Ramin, I've met Ramin a few times in both New York and London... when will he actually be in a show worthy of him? Serious question.

[@sarahdussome4790]

What do you mean?! 😅 He was in both Phantom and Les Mis!

[@carlito876]

Impressive finger snapping

[@amycarcaterra8177]

Thanks so much for the review. I want to see Ramin in a comedy role.

[@milkmilk8721]

I was Pugsley in the Addams family! Such a fun part!!

[@Showtunediva]

I have seen a community theatre production of The Addams Family at a theatre company in Nashua NH a few years ago. My favorite songs are Crazier Than You, Pulled and The Moon And Me. I feel like Gru from Despicable Me is very similar to Uncle Fester because he is obsessed with the moon. I still need to watch the Wednesday tv series.❤

[@Jeshikamo]

"Aside from everything else I just think this is too big". Come on down to Australia, every single one of our programs is that size :P Sometimes you get a mini one as well!

[@amandastumpff5252]

I saw the original Broadway cast in New York City, and I don’t care what credit site, it was a phenomenal show, if not just for those actors and getting to see them perform live alone was fantastic.

[@jenicat55]

I enjoyed this on tour - the dinner scene with Cameron Blakely making the whole cast break was priceless!

[@claireybella74boxall51]

I was there for the matinee and evening performance, and aside from having a numb bum by the end of the day, I really enjoyed it. Not seen the musical before so I had no idea what to expect. I found Michelle's acting a little wooden, but I loved her singing and dancing. She had a really lovely voice. Sam Butterworth was perfect as Uncle Fester, and, of course, I loved Ramin (the reason for going) Loved that he was doing comedic acting, and his singing was stunning as always. Really enjoyed the whole story, and I would consider going to see the show for real, and not just a very good staged concert version. As for the programmes, yes, very big (but also the same size as the programmes for most of these concert shows) but why was all the merch just Michelle related, bit annoying! Saw you and Aaron too :)

[@Twananas]

I was a little annoyed the mics couldn’t handle the belting notes of Wednesday. I sat close enough to hear how amazing she is, but through the mic it didn’t come across as well. I thought Sam was so great as Fester. Really amazing characterisation. I do think some of the jokes are a little cheap. Especially since I’ve seen the show a few times (like the pee joke, one too many long moments to wait for lurch to go off stage. Especially on a stage this big!). It was great that is was almost the full show and not so much just a concert.

[@julianasuplee6900]

I saw this with my mom on Broadway in 2010 to see Nathan Lane, who did not disappoint as Gomez. Carolee Carmello was the other standout as Alice Beineke. She was very sweet at the stage door and I got her autograph. The meet the parents story was just okay. I also haven’t (but want to see) Wednesday on Netflix.

[@wehojm7320]

I’m happy to see The Addams Family make it back on stage. It’s a stretch in the physical presents btwn slapstick Nathan Lane and hotsy totsy Karimloo who is more in the vein of Raul Julia. However Michelle Visage didn’t stray from the persona created by Angelica Houston on film and Carolyn Jones in the original 60’s TV version. I enjoyed your critique.

[@lizlilliman3644]

I wanted to come but train fare was too much. Ramin is my phantom so really wanted to see him as gomez. We saw the uk tour with joanne clifton as Morticia. My daughter loves the show and morticia is her dream roll. Yep not Wednesday but Morticia. She was going to do death around the corner for her performance college audition but was doing a more comedy monologue, she ended up doing i love play rehearsal instead. (She got in and is in her 1st year if diploma).

[@theshadowdirector]

I'd be curious to see a full professional production. It makes sense to try bringing it back with the Wednesday show's success.

[@cedgson91]

The cast looked very interesting I know of the Addams family but never watched anything related to it and wasn’t sure about going or whether I would enjoy it tbh

[@JgmPaneque]

I had the chance to see the UK tour back in 2017 and a few months later I saw the Spanish-language Madrid production, which had a more minimalistic set and overall vibe and I have to say it did the show good. I do agree, though, that La Cage Aux Folles tells the same story with more heart, but it's a fun night out if you're feeling like listening to catchy tunes and a touch of kooky.

[@chuckoneill2023]

It's interesting that your critique of this show was nearly the same as my friends who saw the original production (it ran pre-Broadway in my hometown of Chicago, so regretful I missed it). I understand it was rewritten/improved subsequently, but maybe not enough?

[@allywhite87]

Speaking of concerts, will you be attending the 15th Anniversary concert of Spring Awakening in June? I’d love to hear your thoughts on that! I really wish I could have seen Ramin in this, I loved him in Funny Girl.

[@christopherbutler1980]

Was the ticket price on this reasonable?

[@luctownend2514]

Yes! I saw it and there was a lot of £30 seats in the grand circle which I was sat in. Obviously not the best view ever but perfectly good!

[@loveandbeauty]

I mean, part of what makes something The Addams Family (for me) is contrasting them with a regular family. The conflict within the family is something else so that could have been I guess conflict is part of the fun given they do the whole Wednesday rebelling against her parents/mother in Netflix as well (which really feels less Addams Family to me but that's a whole other issue.) But I do love the joke about them not knowing who's mother grandmama is given it changes depending on the version. I saw the tour with Doug Sills as Gomez which was great.

[@pfftxoxo1502]

idk why modern adaptations are so hell bent on making morticia mean and unsupportive

[@livlewis1350]

I really agree with what you said about Ramin and Michelles performance. I saw it on the tuesday matinee and it felt like they were both saving themselves for the evening show which seemed strange for just a three show run. Their dialogue seemed monotonous and less vivacious than previous iterations ie cameron blakely/samantha womack. All i can assume is that they weren't putting their full energy and focus into the matinee as Ramin did make a few mistakes with his lines and in WYAA so it left me and my friends who were hoping to get some inspiration for our university production of the addams family a little bit dissapointed

[@LesleyWells-ic6up]

In past interviews Ramin has said he does not 'hold back' to save himself. He understands that people have often saved hard to attend and respects that.

[@pauljohnson2755]

I loved the show Sam Buttery as Uncle Fester I think was the best esp falling in love with the Moon lol

[@spookyseasonsarah]

Hard agree with your thoughts on the musical itself. I saw it around a decade ago and was really bummed out by the amount of inner family conflict in the show. I'm a big fan of the original TV show and 90's live action movies, and wish the musical would've had more of that vibe. That being said, I'm a little obsessed with this casting and wish this would've had a longer run.

[@emhu2594]

I saw king and i , little big things, frozen and dance for ukraine this weekend. Addams family didnt appeal to me. I enjoyed everything but LBT. It seemed very high school production, all tell and no show

[@candleshoemanor]

Agree on all comments - except that I also think that the score - except for a couple moments - is overall, dreadful. I saw the show in its Chicago preview period with Bebe and Nathan, and found that the creators just absolutely missed the entire opportunity of these glorious characters. It's almost as if the creators didn't even have an affection for the source material. They have continued to "work" on the show - Broadway was different than Chicago, the tour changed it again, another tour changed it yet again, and from what I have read, further changes have been make for the UK production(s). Supposedly are now happy with it... perhaps because they're getting some of their $ back because this title is one of the most performed musicals in community and school productions. I have always said it is a bland "goth" retelling of a mashup of "La Cage aux Folles" and "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?" I wish - somehow - the rights on this would revert to the Addams estate, and a different creative team would start with a fresh approach. I wonder what Marc Shaiman would do with this - he scored the first feature film . Ahh, I can dream.

[@Erni3K]

I'd go to hear Ramin. Why not be the hero and not the cad? The Addams Family is a slight show, a very generic family comedy. However, The Moon and Me is on my favorite show tunes list, because it's such a delicious break in the show, it's sweet lunacy wouldn't fit in anything else. In Seattle, there are a few in concert shows every year, of shows we will not get a full production of anytime soon. And they are mostly staged, but the rehearsal time is short, no sets, the cast is fullsize and the orchestra is smaller. Money saved in big ways means I get to see a Sunset Boulevard without a stairwell and with great voices, a Light in the Piazza for all three hundred of us who want to hear it live once more.

[@kaitwhy8337]

Wait, wtf is a musical theater showcase and how do I attend one?

[@jamesmason6695]

You never watched the original TV series did you? The formula of it was always about having an outsider guest star to compare the Addams Family to.

[@beltingtokra]

AF the show itself is meh to me, the songs are fun, but imo it is the production that makes it good. The costumes, lighting, band, actors.... i dont get excited to hear Pulled either, it's turned into On My Own levels of eyeroll 😂

[@losmoneyful]

Is there really a rumor of a Ramin chess revival?

[@hellogoditsmesara3569]

My local theater did the Addams family a couple summers ago and I stage managed for it I hate that musical so much it is such a BAD story

[@clowchan]

Not a fan of the goatee Ramin has for Gomez. Looks more like the duke fron Moulin Rouge cos of it