Avenue Q: Review
So, althought my day yesterday admittedly wasn't that great, the show was still fantastic. :D
Anyway.......
Cast:
Princeton/Rod- Robert McClure
Brian- Cole Porter
Kate Monster/Lucy- Kelli Sawyer
Nicky/Trekkie Monster/Bear- Cullen R. Titmas(u/s)
Christmas Eve- Angela Ai
Gary Coleman- Danielle K. Thomas
Mrs. T/Bear- Maggie Lakis
Ensemble- Lexy Fridell, Zonya Love, Seth Rettberg
Thoughts:
- I'd like to think that my dad enjoyed it, althought I suspect that he was just humouring me initially.
- The little bit on the TV screen during the Avenue Q Theme amused me.
- I wasn't too keen on Robert McClure initially, but his Rod is actually fantastic. He had his whole neurotic and happy bits down pat. Still, his singing was rather lukewarm.
- Actually, most of the singing was rather lukewarm at times. But then, the show doesn't require much in terms of vocal ability anyway.
- I noticed that the show did have some changes other than what was mentioned on Wikipedia. Oh well.
- If You Were Gay was hilarious! LOL at Rod pretending not to care yet acting differently and only pretending to read his book. Plus, the audience reaction every time Nicky sang "but I'm not gay" was great.
- The TV Screen explaination of a purpose also amused me. It actually seemed vaguely Sesame Street-ish, but then everything in the show does.
- I'm not sure if the slower beginning to Purpose neccessarily works that well, but I liked the cardboard boxes acting as a chorus. LOL at Gary being scared he's already fulfilled his purpose.
- Whispering the "based on truth" part of Everyone's a Little Bit Racist was comedic gold. Enough said.
- The Bad Idea Bears are so cute, but deadly. They're probably the most underrated characters in the show. Shame, considering they're hilarious.
- The Internet is for Porn was hysterical. From Trekkie humping the window, to the window frames lighting up and Rod being all "ooo, pretty" because his was pink, it just too funny.
- Besides Kate being especially assured that Princeton liked her at the end, Mix Tape was all right.
- I'm Not Wearing Underwear Today was funny in an unfunny way, if that makes sense. Still, Christmas Eve's "get a job!" was enough to turn that around.
- Special was brilliant, mainly because Lucy's voice and character was done so well.
- Ah, the Bad Idea Bears and their obsession with alcohol. LOL at the male bear telling Princeton to feel Lucy's boob.
- No comment on the scene with the full puppet nudity. It wasn't that bad, but it that sentence says it all already. Plus, I'd hate to think that I had unintentionally corrupted innocent minds.
- Fantasies Come True was very theatrical, what with all the smoke and lights. I liked the part when Nicky and Rod ran at each other like in the movies and then ended up dancing. At least, I think that was dancing. In any case, it looked like Nicky had lifted Rod like a ballerina. That was cute.
- Princeton passing out after he gave Kate the penny provides a new perspective on that scene. Rod finding out that he was just dreaming is always sad. Poor little puppet...
- Unfortunately, Mrs. T is right and crabby old bitches really are "the bedrock of this nation". Still, Kate being all "you can't fire me because I quit" was priceless.
- Brian and Christmas Eve's wedding was mildly confusing because I never really caught that either of them was Jewish before. The wedding dress was certainly memorable, though.
- The testicle thing Gary fed Nicky to cover up that he said he thought Rod was gay= priceless.
- My Girlfriend Who Lives In Canada was especially fitting, considering that they're in Canada. Everybody's stunned silence at the end of the song because of what Rod said was brilliant, especially when Rod did the hand thing at the end again in the hopes that they'd talk.
- Princeton's Purpose/Propose worries were kind of irrational, but the scene itself, with all the green light and oversized characters, was very well repersented.
- There's a Fine, Fine Line was an appropriate closing number to the 1st act. Plus, it was one of the songs that actually showcased vocal talent so that was nice too.
- The 15 minute intermission counting-schtik on the TV screens amused me, even though it was childish. Ah, the magic of those TV screens.
- The opening scenario to Act 2 was funny. Princeton was just so self-depreciating.Plus, the Bad Idea Bears' idea that he hang himself was unbelievably hilarious in a sad way, because only a show like this would joke about something like that.
- I was entertained by all of the flashing lights during There is Life Outside Your Apartment. That is all.
- The More You Ruv Someone was incredibly touching, and I enjoyed it when Christmas Eve got all operatic.
- At first I thought that what Kate Monster was writing to Princeton was an email, but then figured out it was actually a note when she came by to deliver it. I loved Lucy's maniacal laughter when she destroyed said note. It was just so villianous.
- Schadenfreude had a few lyrics cut out, methinks. In any case, the subject matter with all of the flashing lights and stuff from the TV screens wins. Plus, Gary's being so cheerful about not taking Nicky in and him in turn becoming homeless as a result seguing into this song does turn something unfortunate into something funny.
- Lucy's not realising that she said those mean things to Princeton near the Empire State Building on top of destroying Kate's note strikes me as enough justification for her to be injured by that penny.
- Haha, her head actually fell off and had to be reattached. But then, considering that Lucy is a puppet, that's always a viable option. LOL at the life signals on the electronic equipment shown on the TVs that looked like boobs.
- While I felt sorry for Nicky when he was out on the street, Rod's crying on Christmas Eve's shoulder made me feel for him too. Funny how that works, isn't it?
- I Wish I Could Go Back to College makes me glad that I'm not old enough to even be in college. After all, it it depressing to want to go back to better times only to realise that you can't do that now.
- Nicky's cry of "Give me a twenty and you'll feel even better!" in The Money Song was fitting, considering that he did start the whole philanthropy thing to begin with. Lyrics were definitely cut here, too.
- I liked how they actually resorted to asking the audience for money, especially considering that I saw Princeton and Nicky not too far from me. :D
- The explaining that Trekkie got 10 million dollars by investing in porn was brilliant. Far-fetched, but oddly believable at the same time. Also, the idea of him as a lonely little monster helps us understand his fixation with porn to begin with.
- Thus, I think that Christmas Eve's new steady client is Trekkie, not Rod. Sorry, but I just don't think Rod has the money. BTW, Christmas Eve and Brian were moving to Hell's Kitchen in this performance.
- I love how Rod's opening the bottle of chanpagne sounded like a gunshot. Also, it amuses me how much Ricky looks like Nicky. In a perfect world, this is the kind of thing that would happen. Nicky's just so nice. Rod's downright spazzy happiness warms my heart.
- Lucy and the Bad Idea Bears reappearing was nice. But then, why wouldn't they? However, I'm wondering whether the Bears founded Scientology, or merely found it. The former would be funnier. Also, that the doctors removed the bad parts of Lucy's brain was never mentioned. So it's just a miracle, now? Hmm. She no longer appears to be a yoga instructor either, just a born-again Christian.
- It astounds me how much the newcomer at the end looks like Princeton. Considering that I very clearly saw said new guy give Princeton the finger, that also says something about the size of the puppets. Or maybe about the visibility of the fingers, I don't know.
- Also, it's incredibly ironic that everybody shoots down Princeton's show idea, considering that they're in one and because the creators themselves probably came accross the same negative reaction. Eh, that's life I guess.
- For Now is kind of the perfect end to the show, since it is realistic and yet somewhat happy at the same time. In any case, it was fun seeing the actors manage a puppet on each hand.
- Finally, I liked how Princeton turns back towards the audience before opening his front door at the very end.
Conclusion: It's kind of unbelievable and a tad too happy for my liking, but overall Avenue Q is good. However, it would have been way funnier if I was less familiar with it, or not at all. But then, I wouldn't have seen it if that were the case. The bottom line is that it's a great show. More people should see it.