Avenue Q Tour Reviews

[jochang621]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 2:03am

Tonight was the official opening for Avenue Q in San Diego - did anyone go? Reviews anyone?

Jeff Marx was in the audience!
Updated On: 7/14/07 at 02:03 AM

[TapTapTapioca]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 2:07am

What are you talking about?

Opening Night for Avenue Q was June 30th. That was the official opening night. I was there on the 30th and Jeff Marx was not there but the coreographer, Bobby Lopez and the director was.

[jochang621]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 2:08am

June 30 was previews - official opening night was tonight, thus explaining Jeff Marx's presence.

Click on the link for more info.

Schedule for Avenue Q tour Updated On: 7/12/07 at 02:08 AM

[TapTapTapioca]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 2:14am

I don't know what that schedule is but it is wrong. On June 30th they had all the press there and there was an opening night party.

Updated On: 7/12/07 at 02:14 AM

[jochang621]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 2:21am

There is a party tonight as well.

I don't mean to step on anyone's toes, just wanted to see if anyone went and if there are reviews of tonight's performance.

[TapTapTapioca]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 2:26am

Ya I don't mean to sound rude either I just never heard about this opening. I will call my counterpart at the Old Globe tomorrow and find out for you.

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 3:29am

Why call? If you click the link it clearly states that the official opening was July 11th.

[mint0621]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 4:44am

TapTap, I was there and it was opening night tonight. (The previous performances were considered "preview" shows.) Confirmed it with Cole Porter, Christian Anderson and Jeff Marx who were attending the cast party. Fun fact: John Doyle was also in attendance in the audience and after party.

I will post a review later, am waaay too tired now! In short, it's a very very solid cast, comparable to the Broadway show.
Updated On: 7/12/07 at 04:44 AM

[JamesMacon]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 10:26am

I would love to hear about the tour cast!

[friedrichVT]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 11:47am

On June30th , Avenue Q opened in PREVIEWS. Last night was the OFFICIAL press opening,followed by a party at the Westgate Hotel.It's also the opening of the co-produced Old Globe run of the Show. The tour officially begins with the San Francisco run.

[jochang621]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 11:51am

Thanks for clarifying!

Reviews on last night's performance? Anybody? I guess not too many people on BWW were there.
Updated On: 7/12/07 at 11:51 AM

[TicketBoy]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 1:46pm

Saw it for the 2nd time last night and thought it was great. Everything seemed tighter than it was when I saw it in Previews.

(and yes, last night was the official Press Opening)

[jochang621]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 1:52pm

how was the audience?

[TicketBoy]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 5:04pm

The audience LOVED the show. You could tell they were eating it all up. Very full house from what I could tell and everyone was buzzing with how great it was afterwards.

[JamesMacon]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 5:58pm

bump...any other reviews?

[broadwayboy1017]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 8:46pm

I'm going to be seeing it in LA when its comes there. VERY EXCITED!!

[broadwayguy4]

Posted: 7/13/07 at 2:46pm

I was there also! Great time. The crowd loved the show. The cast was great with a few exceptions:

I don't think Kelly Sawyer is much of an actress. She has a loud, sharp voice that doesn't blend at all with the other people on stage. Which added to the fact that she had absolutely no chemistry with anyone doing scenes with her. A very selfish performance. She made it seem as if the puppet was a hindrance to her. Not sure how to explain it, you just had to be there.

Rob McClure was very sweet as PRinceton and Rod. I do feel though that he lacks the charisma to really make me want to invest my time in him. But he was trying hard, REAL hard. He also sounded like he was losing his voice.

Cole Porter and Angela Ai were hilarious together. At points I was afraid that she wouldn't be able to sing through the show but she did very well.

Christian Anderson is my absolute favorite. His character voices are so distinct and he seems to be the only puppeteer on stage who is really doing a good job with the puppets.

Minglie Chen is miscast IMHO. I don't really know what her actual speaking voice is, but I have a feeling that it is the same as her Mrs. Thistletwat voice and her Bad Idea Bear Voice as they were both exactly the same. No distinction. Her puppeteering is horrible, and she didn't really seem comfortable being attached to Christian during their scenes together. There were moments where it looked like she was annoyed by him, but I can just be looking into things. In an effort to say something positive about her I will say, she is very pretty. And that does count for something I guess.

Otherwise it is a pretty solid cast. And I hope they are successful on the road.

[jochang621]

Posted: 7/13/07 at 2:51pm

yay! finally a detailed review! great review, thanks -

[Qrocks]

Posted: 7/13/07 at 3:20pm

Broadwayguy4. I read your review and I was inspired to register with this website to leave some of my opinions. Keep in mind that I am an avid (obsessed) fan of the show and have seen it multiple times in New York and Vegas.

I disagree with your assesment of Rob McClure. I thought he was charismatic enough. He isn't matinee idol looking as say a Barrett Foa, or Howie Michael Smith, or Jonathan Root, (all of whom I've seen perform). Because of this, I feel he gives an underdog quality to both of his characterizations of Princeton and Rod that make you really want to root for him.

I guess you might be right about Kelli's performance. I was telling my friend that watching her was kind of like watching Barrett as Princeton. It was as if it wouldn't matter if the puppet was there or not. I think that might be what you are getting at with your comment about her puppetry. Kelli is a beautiful girl, and I personally like her voice. It does cut through, and I like that.

Cole Porter is the best Brian I have seen. Across the board. I know so many people think that this role is a throwaway role, but Cole is better than the dude that is doing the role on Broadway right now. He should be there.

I had the same concerns about Angela Ai's voice. But she got through everything, and she had me in stitches.

Christian is also my favorite Nicky and Trekkie Monster. I think I've seen them all with the exception of their understudies. So out of Rick and David,(edit: and Rob McClure) I would say Christian is my favorite. Just sweet and funny and not trying to ham up the humor the way the other guys did.

I am actually in agreement with you about Minglie. I didn't get her at all. She's pretty alright, I get that. And she is obviously the Christmas Eve understudy. But why not give that role to a puppeteer who can do different character voices? She just took me out of the show whenever she was on stage and it confused me. She doesn't look right next to Christian. I just think there has to be better for that role.

To be honest, I have never thought much about the role before, because the other ladies whom I saw perform it just seem to ease in and out of the puppets that you barely notice them there. This girl I noticed, and it wasn't a good thing.

So there is my review of the Tour cast. I wish them well and hope the real critics enjoy the show and give it accolades.
Updated On: 7/13/07 at 03:20 PM

[friedrichVT]

Posted: 7/13/07 at 3:25pm

I saw the show last Thursday and I have to disagree. Kelli Sawyers voice was pretty amazing and her Fine,Fine line heartbreaking and beautifully sung. Her puppetering also looked great from where I sat(MEZZ). I found Rob COMPLETELY charming.His voice sounded a little tired but his chracters were cleanly drawn and his puppetering looked fantastic. He has an innate likeable quality and his Rod was hysterical. Minglie's yellow bear was HYSTERICAL. She sounds like a 5 yr old and it was very funny. One of her yellow bear lines literally stopped the show the night I was there. Her puppeteering also looke fine from my standpoint. The cast overall seems solid. Some pacing issues but that could be due to the size of the house and holding 4 laughs. Which were abundant.

[mll85]

Posted: 7/13/07 at 3:26pm

Here's the review from Variety: http://tinyurl.com/33h3lb

[Dolly_Levi]

Posted: 7/13/07 at 5:29pm

Any pics (in addition to the VARIETY one) of the touring cast???

[jochang621]

Posted: 7/13/07 at 5:57pm

Here are photos from the press rehearsal:
Photo Coverage: Avenue Q Tour Press Rehearsal

[broadwayguy4]

Posted: 7/14/07 at 12:37am

FriedrichVT = Someone involved with Avenue Q. Hardly an objective point of view. Especially when his name was mentioned in my review.

[friedrichVT]

Posted: 7/14/07 at 1:23am

Just saw Gypsy too, and LIKED it...I must be Patti Lupone! Just cuz someone disagrees w/u doesnt mean their opinion isnt valid. Saw color purple last week too, I'm Fantasia...Or maybe you're a wannabe who couldnt get a callback....regardless ,I respectfully disagree with your review.