Jeff Marx, Robert Lopez, John Tartaglia, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Avenue Q - Avenue Q (2003 Original Broadway Cast)

Avenue Q will only fuel the frustration of those who think that Broadway has given up on sophisticated entertainment geared to adults. "Whatever happened to Cole Porter's witty rhymes and mature subject matter?" they'll say. Well, it's hard to deny that Avenue Q's main frame of reference is Sesame Street and that its humor can be very broad--yes, there's profanity and puppet sex. But the show also displays heart ("The More You Ruv Someone" typically begins with "Why can't people get along?") and a pretty satisfying zany streak. Musically, the score is rooted in 1970s pop, with nods to the aforementioned Sesame Street. The excellent cast, dominated by John Tartaglia and Stephanie D'Abruzzo, does it justice, milking the humorous numbers for all they're worth and finding pathos in the more straightforward ones. Not bad for a childish show. --Elisabeth Vincentelli Amazon.com

Muppets Uncensored

If you think the Muppets were cute then this show will provide you with a look at the uncensored side. The music all by itself is an enjoyable romp even if you are unfamiliar with the Braodway production. A must have for all Theater fans. October 18, 2008

Hysterically Funny

Avenue Q is hilarious. It's definitely deserving of it's praise. I saw it when it came into town. Definitely not for the kids, but neither are R rated movies. October 7, 2008

Clever, limited, gimmicky script. Super talented cast.

I just saw the touring company. VERY talented cast! I thought that the concept of the show was a great idea, I couldn't help but feel that the writers weren't skilled enough to bring the show to its full potential. The program struck me as an exuberant performance of a sitcom-level script. Rather than reach for the second, third or fourth word, punchline or plot twist, the writers seemed to stop with the first one that entered their minds. (Sheltered suburban writers contriving something for a sheltered suburban audience in an effort to push the proverbial envelope and merit that vague descriptor 'edgy.') The end result, I felt, was a lineup of stereotypical characters, a series of juvenile wisecracks (with some smug raunchiness tossed in for effect) and a pre-digested series of truisms used as a replacement for actual character or plot arc. The score was filled with palatable, but totally forgettable songs. The show was clever, but never went beyond the gimmicky or obvious. The talented cast in the touring company, however, were worth the price of admission. Their performances were extraordinary. Nobody but a remarkably talented and resourceful cast could pull this off. October 5, 2008

Is it perfect? No. Do I absolutely love it? YES!!!

First, I'll tell you all about the weaknessess.

Puerile? Yep. And I don't care much for puerile. I especially hate bathroom humor. Cliched? Yes it is, in many places. Self-pitying? Yeah, my generation has kind of perfected self-pity, haven't we? So yes, I am well aware that this is not perfection. However...

Oh my God, I LOVE this!!! I love this passonately. I am just the right age to have watched Sesame Street fanatically through my entire early childhood (there was no cable in the city I grew up in until I was 14...Philly got cable VERY late). The songs have a sound sort of like songs I remember Sesame Street characters singing, but bigger.

This is why with everything in Avenue Q that I didn't like, I'll give it five stars and recommend it to anyone that will listen: For all of the puerile humor, the cliches, for all of the assumed irony and even cynicism, there is genuine warmth in Avenue Q. This show actually loves it's stumbing along, trying-to-figure-out-how-life-is-supposed-to-work characters. Avenue Q, at it's heart, has no real cynicisim. If you're a member of a generation that truly (for the most part) has no desire to emulate its parents (Which part shall we reject first? The divorces? The materialism? The custody issues?), you kind of have no model to build your life on. If this is you, you have to find your own way and make your own rules. Avenue Q captures what this feels like better than anything else I've ever seen.

July 26, 2008

Hilarious

I first heard this back in 2004 and just recently began listening to it again. It was hilarious back then and it's still the funniest musical I've ever listened to. I'm not a huge fan of many musicals (Rocky Horror and Little Shop of Horrors are good in my book), but this one is just too much fun. As many may have heard, it has a fair amount of swearing, sexual references (and puppet sex in the live show apparently), and like one drug reference. But, if you aren't a total prude and want a good laugh, then take a listen or, better yet, go see the show on/off Broadway (I still haven't... sad face).

It seems geared towards the post-college crowd (which is apparent in the second song). Then it gets into a variety of subjects such as failure, homosexuality, racism, love, purpose, and ends on a cheery number that reminds everyone that things can always get better. There's a lot of honesty that you get with this musical. The puppets say things that people might be thinking, but wouldn't admit to themselves *broad generalization*

Of course, there's all sorts of silliness that is spliced into the mix with songs like "the Internet is for Porn," "My Girlfriend, who Lives in Canada," and "There is Life Outside Your Apartment." These are just as lewd, but a bit more playful than some of the other tracks, in my opinion.

It's all in fun. I don't see how it could get a negative review, but of course my bias shows some since I love it so much. Just know that it's definitely racy and is not your typical musical.

The other listing for Avenue Q has the tracks so you can listen.
July 21, 2008

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