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Regional Reviews: Florida - West Coast The Addams Family Also see Bill's reviews of Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Little Shop of Horrors
Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice have contributed a reasonably strong book, albeit with a number of groaner jokes, and Andrew Lippa has written a fine score, very much in character for these oddballs. "Two Things," "One Normal Night," "Just Around the Corner" and Crazier Than You" are all fine musical comedy numbers, but are too dark for my taste. Rodgers and Hart wrote one of their best comedy numbers for a revival of A Connecticut Yankee, "To Keep My Love Alive," which is about how the singer has in the past killed her husbands, while the rest of the score featured out and out love songs such as "My Heart Stood Still" and "Thou Swell." "Happy/Sad" between father Gomez and daughter Wednesday might have been that contrasting song but falls a bit flat. The opening night audience was laughing and applauding strongly throughout the evening, apparently liking the show more than I did. For me, the show lacks heart. That is not to say that the folks at The Players aren't giving it their all, because they are. Chip Fisher is giving a fine performance playing Gomez very much like Nathan Lane might have. As Morticia, Eve Caballero is sultry with just the right touch of femme fatale. She owns the stage every second she is on it. Other standouts are Bill Sarazen, warmly comic as Uncle Fester, Sabrina Bowen as Wednesday, Brett McDowell as Pugsley, especially in his torture scene, and David Anderson, Mark Athridge and Andrea Keddell as The Beinekes. The entire cast is fine. Jared E. Walker has directed and designed the costumes for a fine production. It is not lavish but works well to keep things moving ahead briskly. Choreography by Eric Gregory is simple but well within the abilities of the cast. Set design by Jeff Weber and lighting design by Mike Wood add to the overall production. Alan Jay Corey leads a band of four to keep the musical end of things bright and lively. The Addams Family, through November 16, 2014 at The Players Theatre, 838 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL. Box Office (941) 365-2494. For more information visit www.theplayers.org. Cast: Director/Costume Designer/Assistant Choreographer: Jared E. Walker Orchestra:
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