‘Cheers’ to new Gomez
By FRANK SCHECK
New York Post
March 20, 2011
Roger Rees is on a roll. The Welsh actor, writer and director will slip into Gomez Addams’ spooky shoes in Broadway’s “The Addams Family” starting on Tuesday. It’s a high-profile role in a popular show with Bebe Neuwirth — his former “Cheers” co-star — as Morticia Addams. But it’s also an actor’s worst nightmare — replacing the celebrated Nathan Lane, who originated the role when the musical opened a year ago.
Best known in the US for his Tony-winning turn in 1981’s “The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby” and his more recent role as Lord John Marbury on “The West Wing,” the 66-year-old multi-hyphenate recently chatted with The Post about his current whirlwind.
Nathan Lane is probably the biggest star in musical theater today. Do you have any trepidation about stepping into his shoes?
Actually, I asked Nathan to leave his shoes by the armoire (laughs). Nathan is my hero. I’ve been writing fan letters to him for years. It’s an impossible task to do what he did, of course. But I so admire him. And he was really jazzed that I wanted to do it.
Your longtime partner, Rick Elice, co-wrote “The Addams Family.” Was it always part of the plan that you would someday play Gomez?
I don’t think Rick had anything to do with it, actually. I think they went through all the famous names and when there was no one left, they came to me. The first time I saw the show, in Chicago, I thought the part of Gomez was fantastic. It’s also Spanish, and that’s always funny. It’s a real people-pleasing show. I think if Shakespeare were alive today, he’d be lining up to play Gomez.
Is it tough to step into a role that’s been done by somebody else?
I’ve played Hamlet, and that’s been done before, too. You always steal something from someone else.
The show opened to dismissive reviews, although that doesn’t seem to have affected the box office. Was Rick discouraged by the critical reception?
Not really. I think everyone thinks they can write musicals. Everyone has an opinion, and I think that’s great. But in the end, people who can actually get up and write things are few and far between. It takes a lot of courage to actually do it.
This marks a reunion between you and Bebe Neuwirth, who plays Morticia. The two of you worked together on “Cheers,” when you played the arrogant English millionaire Robin Colcord.
Yes. I also directed and co-starred with her in a production of “The Taming of the Shrew.” And she starred in the musical revue “Here Lies Jenny,” which I conceived and directed here at the Zipper Theater. We’ve done a lot of things together. She’s very strong-minded. Everything’s got to be good. So I’m working very hard on my dancing.
You starred in the musical “A Man of No Importance” in 2002, but you’re not exactly known as a singer. How are you preparing?
There are special tablets you can take (laughs). But one thing I’ve learned from all the great people I’ve worked with, like Tom Stoppard and Trevor Nunn, is that you have to do everything you can to challenge yourself. Otherwise it becomes routine, and you might as well be working in a bank.
