Siobhan and I went to Avenue Q last night – she had bought me tickets for my birthday – so nice!! Siobhan saw it when it first came out and raved about it.
Tears rolled down my face throughout. But I had a huge smile on my face. It was THAT kind of a joyful experience.
I’m still re-living it in my mind. There were some seriously laughoutloud moments. The whole concept is hysterical: actors holding huge puppets – and the actors themselves are visible, but they are acting “through” their puppets – which are of the awesome Jim Henson Sesame Street variety. And there were times (actually, most of the time) I would totally forget that there was a human being actor standing RIGHT THERE, doing the voices … and I’d be staring at the huge puppet face, like IT was the one who was really alive and speaking.
Especially Rod. The closeted gay puppet. I loved Rod so much that it hurt. Siobhan and I were howling afterwards about the scene when he’s in “therapy” with Christmas Eve – the Japanese landlord on their block on Avenue Q – and he’s lying with his head in her lap – his big square blue head, with its round green button nose … and the actor (who was unbelievable – he had two parts – that show must be such a workout for him – not one second of rest) – the actor is sitting right there, manipulating the puppet, talking in “Rod’s voice – but it was kind of a serious scene, so the entire audience (and it was a sold out show) was totally quiet, watching the scene. Rapt. Like Siobhan said, when we were howling later, “Like … everyone was just transFIXED … by a PUPPET …” We totally forgot that “Rod” was not real. Rod is totally real. He is a character.
But the whole thing was great. A truly joyful ridiculous and moving experience. I love that something like that is not only on Broadway, but is a smash hit.
Sheila, there’s a documentary called Show Business that’s available from Netflix, and it’s about the mounting of four musicals during (I think) the 2004-5 Broadway season – Wicked, Taboo, Caroline or Change, and Avenue Q. If you haven’t seen it yet, you’ll love it, I’m sure! xxx Stevie
also..the director of that show is a friend of Kate’s and was there the night Kate and I danced at Berlin..while singing..”Even for the Babies?? Go Girl!!” ..in time to some random house music..i think his name is Jason.
That mythical night. I WISH I had been there … but I still love to live it vicariously.
“Even for da babies? Go, girl … go, girl …”
I didn’t know they were friends. It’s such a good show!
i think they went to NU together.
Special Ops is glad …
… that it is raining. … that this week is almost over. Enough, already. (Except for Avenue Q. Special Ops is tremendously grateful for having escaped a bit into the wonderful Avenue Q) Special Ops feels that the week she…
I loved this show!
I don’t know about you, but when a show starts off asking:
“What do you do with a BA in English?
What is my life going to be?
Four years of college and plenty of knowledge,
Have earned me this useless degree.”
It definitely hit home!
I love this show – saw it a while back (June after its Tony win, I think?) Its amazing.
Its here on tour, and I may get to see it Saturday…
This musical was my favorite long before I even finally saw it (got the soundtrack first). Yay!
One tiny quibble: Christmas Eve is a therapist, not landlord.
I knew she was a therapist (I mentioned that in the post) – but i guess I thought she (and her fat lug “stand-up comic” husband) were landlords, too. With Gary Coleman (hahahahahahaha) as the super.
Oh, and I definitely need to get the soundtrack!