The Forbidden Planet International Blog Log

Multiple showbiz sources are repeating news from the Charles Addams Foundation site that the late, great cartoonist’s most famous creations, the Addams Family, will be returning to public life in the form of a Broadway stage musical, the first time Addams’ work will be used as the basis for a stage performance according to the site. Its a bit odd to realise that Addams hasn’t been used for mainstream stage before – I generally find those of us who love his dark sense of humour also tend to be fans of Edward Gorey as well and Gorey was noted for his stage designs as well as his cartoons and illustrations. Although, of course, Addams creations did enjoy enduring success and appeal in TV form and then later in a pair of Christina Ricci-starring excellent films.

(the immortal Addams Family by Charles Addams, (c) TEE/Charles Addams Foundation)

Nathan Lane, who starred in the revival of The Producers (I still prefer the original but I enjoyed the full musical new version as well; “Spring Time for Hitler” still reduces me to fits of laughter), will play the role of the pinstriped fiend Gomez Addams, while Bebe Neuwirth will play every Goth boy (and some Goth gal’s) dream woman, Morticia Addams; Bebe seems to me like perfect casting for Morticia after her long running role as the delectable but remote Lilith in Cheers and Frasier. No word yet on the songs, although I’d have to guess that the famous theme song would have to feature (just thinking about it makes me want to click my fingers and sing along). I wonder if, like the musical revival of The Producers, it will spawn a film version as well further down the line?

(Bebe Neuwirth – perfect casting for a new Morticia?)

Personally I’m hoping that perhaps it prompts some movement on a decent classic reprint series of Addams’ work – I’ve been wanting to see some well produced Addams archives for years now (great archive reprints of other cartoon classics like the Complete Peanuts just fuel that desire) and I’m betting that a lot of other readers would love to see them too. The musical is planned for the 2009/2010 season on Broadway with a short out of town dry run beforehand.