Wheelock Family Theatre at Boston University presents ‘The Addams Family’. Book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. Music and Lyrics by Andrew Lippa. Nick Vargas (Director), David Freeman Coleman (Music Director), Larry Sousa (Choreographer), Jimmy Rotondo (Scenic Designer), Frank Meissner, Jr. (Lighting Designer), Zoë Sundra (Costume Designer), Jenn Butler (Props Designer), Jon King (Sound Designer), Akeem Celestine (Makeup Designer). At WFT@BU, 180 Riverway, Boston, through November 19, 2023.

by Linda Chin

After a warm pre-curtain welcome by Jeri Hammond (Director of Education) and Nick Vargas (Interim Artistic Director) the house lights dim, and the audience is abuzz with anticipation. Yet before the red velvet curtain opens to reveal the world of the show (and its sensational set by Jimmy Rotondo and lighting by Frank Meissner, Jr.) is another surprise. A disembodied hand emerges through the split in the curtain, eliciting some gasps from the crowd (from the younger, middle-aged, or senior patrons – or all three?). But the hand seems more shy, lost, and friendly than scary, lecherous, and frightening and happily finds its place in the spotlight center stage. When the first strains of music from the theme song, the “Buh-buh-buh-bump,” rise from the pit, the hand – right on cue – snaps its fingers twice, then the phrase repeats. The hand is noticeably happier when more of its new friends in the audience join in. Which many of us baby boomers (who grew up with the television show and this opening number on our black-and-white sets) do while giggling and singing along with kooky, ooky, childish glee.

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