The opening musical number of The Addams Family tells audiences just why the strange and macabre clan has stuck around for nearly a century. “When you’re an Addams, the standard answers don’t apply.”

Wait, nearly a century? And they’re still relevant? Yes, it really has been that long – the comic strip by Charles Addams was originally published in The New Yorker as early as 1938.

The reason? There’s something relatable, even aspirational, about the eccentric Addams.

In a sense, the Addams reflect an idealized family, embodying true love, support, and unwavering loyalty – only cloaked in all black. “When you’re an Addams, it’s family first and family last.” Even extended family members are invited to this close-knit group, including long-dead ancestors.

At the same time, the Addams stand in stark contrast to a conventional portrayal of family in popular media, especially during their origins in the 1930s and 40s. The Addams reflect American values in a funhouse mirror, showcasing both the darkness and the saccharine sweetness of suburban life.

But that never inhibited their popularity – it only intrigued people more. In a Christmas 1946 comic strip, the family is depicted pouring boiling oil on carolers. A bit grotesque perhaps, but the image was so well received it was later sold on Christmas cards.

Addams’ comics found comedy in the juxtaposition of the bizarre and the everyday, featuring ordinary people harboring melancholic tendencies.

That’s exactly what Addams Family enthusiasts find so intoxicating about the kooky group. At their core, the Addams are confident in their singularity, knowing what makes you unique can never be a bad thing. They’re just like you, only they embrace the darkness, the things that make them “strange.”

In The Addams Family musical, Wednesday has fallen in love with a “normal” boy. Deep in the throes of passion, her family grows concerned as Wednesday becomes a little more ordinary, herself. At a family dinner, instead of wearing her signature black dress, she arrives wearing…gasp…yellow!

In the topsy-turvy evening that follows, the Addams emphasize the importance of staying true to yourself, no matter where that takes you. “Who cares about the world outside and what it wants from you. When you’re an Addams, you do what Addams always do!” Authenticity will take you far, even to the moon.

DETAILS
The Addams Family
May 2 – 4 • Buell Theatre
Tickets