they're creepy and they're spooky...

... and i loved every minute. from the familiar bars of the tv theme, to the final daa-da-da-daa, The Addams Family musical on broadway reminded me of the musicals i grew to love in high school - the pajama game, bye bye birdie and guys and dolls. yeah, they're corny and hokey but everyone always looks as if they're having a rollicking good time, even when they're acting as if they aren't. (unlike more recent musicals, where sometimes the actors appear to be in real pain.)

bebe neuwirth was the embodiment of morticia, nathan lane seemed to be channeling raul julia's interpretation of gomez rather than his own, and kevin chamberlain's fester was delightfully demented. even cousin it made a brief appearance. what i liked most about it was that it wasn't just singing - there was dialogue too... dialogue that tickled enough to make me laugh out loud a few times. the scenery and the staging was fun - just enough to suggest the mansion, not enough to get in the way, and very reminiscent of the scenery in the original Charles Addams' cartoons.

we stayed, appropriately, at the Night Hotel, which was just a couple blocks from teh theatre. the decor was a bit too stark for my taste (i don't find Goth particularly sexy) but it WAS right across the street from no less than THREE irish pubs, which is what i'd told Beloved i wanted for food. we settled on connelly's and liked it so much we went back after the show.

considering its the launching of my Birthday Week, i think we're off to a Great Start.

and futhermore, the war will end. blessed be.