The Sheila Variations

I laughed, I cried

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.

My God, it is SUCH a fun show. But for some reason, 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 - I mean, 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.