Addams Family values

Joy Jenkins

I remember when the first “Addams Family” film came out in 1991. I was immediately enthralled with this creepy, kooky and altogether ooky family. From the Frankenstein’s monster-esque butler to the unpredictable grandmother to Thing, the hand with a mind of its own, to Wednesday and Pugsley, the impish children attempting to kill each other in a variety of creative ways, to my favorite member of the Addams family, Cousin It, this wonderfully wacky clan was funny, surprising and fantastically entertaining.

But “The Addams Family” and its 1993 sequel, “Addams Family Values” were far from the first representations of this eccentric family. It all started with the cartoons of American cartoonist Charles Addams, who created the characters of Gomez, the patriarch; his wife, Morticia; Uncle Fester; Lurch, the butler: Grandmama; Wednesday; Pugsley; and Thing in the late 1930s as a sardonic spoof of the perfect American family. In this case, though, they delight in the macabre and are unaware that anyone outside the Addams circle finds them peculiar.

From those memorable cartoons came a long line of Addams Family adaptations, including the 1960s TV show starring John Astin as Gomez and featuring the impossible-to-get-out-of-your-head theme song.

That same song kicks off the newest incarnation of the Addams Family: “The Addams Family,” a new musical comedy. I attended the Tuesday night performance of this show, presented by Celebrity Attractions at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center and running through Jan. 29. To my excitement, the musical perfectly captured everything that first endeared me to this quirky family more than 20 years ago.

“The Addams Family” had my favorite characters — from Morticia and Gomez to Wednesday and Pugsley to Uncle Fester, Grandmama and, yes, even Cousin It. It had the funny asides reminding the audience of this family’s unique perspectives and interests (a few modern references, including a nod to Charlie Sheen’s recent antics, even enter the mix). And it had the iconic Addams residence — an expansive, dark mansion, located in the middle of New York’s Central Park, complete with winding staircases, creepy family portraits and its own graveyard.

This “Addams Family,” though, takes the fun a step further with catchy songs and a new story.

As the musical opens, Gomez has just learned that his daughter, Wednesday, is not only growing up, but she has also fallen in love — with a kind, sweet young man named Lucas who comes from (gasp!) a perfectly normal Ohio family. Head over heels in love and shedding aspects of her typically dry, dark demeanor, Wednesday is ready to introduce her boyfriend’s family to the Addams clan.

What follows is a meet-the-parents dinner at the Addams mansion full of laughs, surprises and enough devious twists to be worthy of an Addams family gathering.

Addams Family fans young and old will be delighted with the catchy songs, curious characters and creative sets that fill this musical. It all makes for a devilishly fun evening that really is a screa-um.

Visit MyTicketOffice.com for ticket and show information.