Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2009 22:39:04 GMT -8
Note: This is a review of the play in general, but I watched the tour production that performed in Sacramento from March 11-22, 2009. The pictures below are from the cast I saw, not[/i] from the original Broadway cast.[/b]
I first learned about "Avenue Q" back in, gosh, 2005? 2004? Sometime around there. It debuted on New York's Broadway in 2003, and it won several Tony Awards, including the Tony for Best Musical. I actually owe Moony a dinner, because it was really her who introduced me to the play. She sent me a song with a catchy melody that sounded like something Joe Rasposo would write for "Sesame Street," except the lyrics were very crass. The song is called "The Internet is For Porn." I may be perverse, but my heart fell to "Avenue Q" as soon as I heard that tune, profane as it may be.
Danielle K. Thomas as Gary Coleman (Yes, THAT Gary Coleman)
I'm Gary Coleman of TV's Diff'rent Strokes/I made a lot'a money that got stolen by my folks/Now I'm broke, and I'm the butt of everyone's jokes/But I'm here, the superintendent of Avenue Q![/i][/center]
I longed to watch "Avenue Q" since then, and it was only now that the tour production stopped at Sacramento. Driving for 75 minutes to and from the show was totally worth it; I listened to the original cast album many times before actually seeing the play, and so I was fearful that I would have spoiled myself, but thankfully I was still surprised and energized. This play is awesome; even better than I imagined.
Princeton (left) is played by Robert McClure, and Kate Monster (right) by Anika Larsen.
As you can see, the puppeteers are on stage with their puppets. They wear solid, dark colors, and their facial expressions compliment their puppets' voices. Despite the humans being right there, many pay more attention to the puppets (which is the desired effect).
To put it simply, "Avenue Q" is a parody of "Sesame Street," but not in a negative sense (it's obvious that the creators of "Avenue Q" are lovers of everything Jim Henson). The melodies, much of the sets and even the puppets themselves look like something straight out of a Jim Henson production, but you find out within thirty seconds that this show is not for kids. The F bomb is dropped on occasion (always for the best of comedic value), and other heavily profane words are not left unsaid. There is also a lot of sexually vulgar humor utilized, so if you're not a fan of grown-up humor you may not appreciate this musical. For the rest of us non-prudes, it's party time!
Trekkie Monster, controlled and voiced by David Benoit (right) with assistance by Maggie Lakis (left), is perhaps the "Avenue Q" character that receives the most laughs.
The musical opens with Princeton moving into the titular Avenue Q, an outer borough of New York City. Princeton (Robert McClure), who just graduated from a university, spends the entire play searching for his purpose. His neighbors in the avenue consist of the following: the superintendent, has-been child actor Gary Coleman (Danielle K. Thomas); wannabe comedian and unemployed lug Brian (Cullen R. Titmas, not pictured in this review); Brian's wife, Christmas Eve (Sala Iwamatsu), a Japanese immigrant with a hilarious, offensively thick accent; Rod (McClure), a closeted republican; Nicky (David Benoit), Rod's good-natured yet sloppy roommate; Kate Monster (Anika Larsen), a furry monster whose dream is to start a school for little monsters; and, last but not lease, a porn-obsessed monster named Trekkie Monster (Benoit). There is another puppet named Lucy, whose morals are, shall we say, nonexistent. Christmas Eve, Brian, and Gary Coleman are the only 'human' characters in this play, while everyone else are puppets. There are also the Bad Idea Bears, two nauseatingly adorable bears that are blatantly evil parodies of the Care Bears. ("Why don't you hang yourself?" is just one of their dubious suggestions.)
Gary Coleman and Nicky sing about "Schadenfreude." Nicky's puppeteers are the same as Trekkie's, Benoit and Lakis.[/b]
Princeton and Kate eventually fall in love, but will it last without conflicts? Will Princeton find his purpose? Will Kate open a monster school? Every character has his or her own conflicts. Just as "Sesame Street" educates letters and numbers to the youth, "Avenue Q" satirizes the harsh lives we all have. The "Sesame Street" vibe is further exploited with animated segments throughout the play, which are all hilarious and biting.
Lucy, sultrily performed by Larsen. Larsen has the opportunity to portray both a sweet heroine (Kate) and a... um, I can't say the particular word here (Lucy).
Of course, a musical is only as good as its songs (some would argue), and "Avenue Q" succeeds by leaps and bounds. The songs are all catchy and hummable, just like "Sesame Street," but they are filled with taboo lyrics. Subjects range from racism to sexual orientation. Although the play is almost constantly comedic, there are a few moments of sorrow; for example, Kate Monster's melancholic song, "There's a Fine, Fine Line," is heart-wrenching. "There's a Fine, Fine Line" is one of my three favorite songs: the other two are "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist" and "Fantasies Come True."
If you ever find a chance to go and see "Avenue Q," I highly recommend it; it is one of the best musicals I've ever seen on stage, and is a pitch-perfect satire of not only "Sesame Street," but life in general.
**** out of **** (WOW! INCREDIBLE!)
I first learned about "Avenue Q" back in, gosh, 2005? 2004? Sometime around there. It debuted on New York's Broadway in 2003, and it won several Tony Awards, including the Tony for Best Musical. I actually owe Moony a dinner, because it was really her who introduced me to the play. She sent me a song with a catchy melody that sounded like something Joe Rasposo would write for "Sesame Street," except the lyrics were very crass. The song is called "The Internet is For Porn." I may be perverse, but my heart fell to "Avenue Q" as soon as I heard that tune, profane as it may be.
Danielle K. Thomas as Gary Coleman (Yes, THAT Gary Coleman)
I'm Gary Coleman of TV's Diff'rent Strokes/I made a lot'a money that got stolen by my folks/Now I'm broke, and I'm the butt of everyone's jokes/But I'm here, the superintendent of Avenue Q!
I longed to watch "Avenue Q" since then, and it was only now that the tour production stopped at Sacramento. Driving for 75 minutes to and from the show was totally worth it; I listened to the original cast album many times before actually seeing the play, and so I was fearful that I would have spoiled myself, but thankfully I was still surprised and energized. This play is awesome; even better than I imagined.
Princeton (left) is played by Robert McClure, and Kate Monster (right) by Anika Larsen.
As you can see, the puppeteers are on stage with their puppets. They wear solid, dark colors, and their facial expressions compliment their puppets' voices. Despite the humans being right there, many pay more attention to the puppets (which is the desired effect).
To put it simply, "Avenue Q" is a parody of "Sesame Street," but not in a negative sense (it's obvious that the creators of "Avenue Q" are lovers of everything Jim Henson). The melodies, much of the sets and even the puppets themselves look like something straight out of a Jim Henson production, but you find out within thirty seconds that this show is not for kids. The F bomb is dropped on occasion (always for the best of comedic value), and other heavily profane words are not left unsaid. There is also a lot of sexually vulgar humor utilized, so if you're not a fan of grown-up humor you may not appreciate this musical. For the rest of us non-prudes, it's party time!
Trekkie Monster, controlled and voiced by David Benoit (right) with assistance by Maggie Lakis (left), is perhaps the "Avenue Q" character that receives the most laughs.
The musical opens with Princeton moving into the titular Avenue Q, an outer borough of New York City. Princeton (Robert McClure), who just graduated from a university, spends the entire play searching for his purpose. His neighbors in the avenue consist of the following: the superintendent, has-been child actor Gary Coleman (Danielle K. Thomas); wannabe comedian and unemployed lug Brian (Cullen R. Titmas, not pictured in this review); Brian's wife, Christmas Eve (Sala Iwamatsu), a Japanese immigrant with a hilarious, offensively thick accent; Rod (McClure), a closeted republican; Nicky (David Benoit), Rod's good-natured yet sloppy roommate; Kate Monster (Anika Larsen), a furry monster whose dream is to start a school for little monsters; and, last but not lease, a porn-obsessed monster named Trekkie Monster (Benoit). There is another puppet named Lucy, whose morals are, shall we say, nonexistent. Christmas Eve, Brian, and Gary Coleman are the only 'human' characters in this play, while everyone else are puppets. There are also the Bad Idea Bears, two nauseatingly adorable bears that are blatantly evil parodies of the Care Bears. ("Why don't you hang yourself?" is just one of their dubious suggestions.)
Gary Coleman and Nicky sing about "Schadenfreude." Nicky's puppeteers are the same as Trekkie's, Benoit and Lakis.
Princeton and Kate eventually fall in love, but will it last without conflicts? Will Princeton find his purpose? Will Kate open a monster school? Every character has his or her own conflicts. Just as "Sesame Street" educates letters and numbers to the youth, "Avenue Q" satirizes the harsh lives we all have. The "Sesame Street" vibe is further exploited with animated segments throughout the play, which are all hilarious and biting.
Lucy, sultrily performed by Larsen. Larsen has the opportunity to portray both a sweet heroine (Kate) and a... um, I can't say the particular word here (Lucy).
Of course, a musical is only as good as its songs (some would argue), and "Avenue Q" succeeds by leaps and bounds. The songs are all catchy and hummable, just like "Sesame Street," but they are filled with taboo lyrics. Subjects range from racism to sexual orientation. Although the play is almost constantly comedic, there are a few moments of sorrow; for example, Kate Monster's melancholic song, "There's a Fine, Fine Line," is heart-wrenching. "There's a Fine, Fine Line" is one of my three favorite songs: the other two are "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist" and "Fantasies Come True."
If you ever find a chance to go and see "Avenue Q," I highly recommend it; it is one of the best musicals I've ever seen on stage, and is a pitch-perfect satire of not only "Sesame Street," but life in general.
**** out of **** (WOW! INCREDIBLE!)