Brantley Re-reviews Avenue Q

[CyCoSpAz2]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 10:13am

They may have no legs of their own, but darned if those fuzzy creatures aren't still standing, long after more full-bodied competition has bitten the dust. I mean the singing, occasionally foulmouthed hand puppets of "Avenue Q," the "Sesame Street"-style musical for adults who can't quite believe they've grown up, which reopened Off Broadway on Wednesday night at New World Stages, after a six-year, Tony Award-winning run on Broadway.

...

In the meantime I am perfectly happy that the "for now" of "Avenue Q" remains indefinite.

http://theater.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/theater/reviews/22avenue.html?ref=theater
Updated On: 10/22/09 at 10:13 AM

[Dantes]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 10:37am

Aww great review, im so pleased for them

But

"and at some point in the West End of London, where their distinctly American-television-informed humor mystified most critics but still drew a young and appreciative audience."

West End critics loved it, whats he talking about?

[DeNada]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 10:57am

"West End critics loved it, whats he talking about? "

Reviews were pretty mixed:

Financial Times (who cares, but still) - *
Telegraph - ** (I think? Webpage doesn't show the star rating, although it got *** for the Gielgud opening)
Times - *** (and not a flattering one)
Guardian - ***
Independent - no idea about star rating but it's a half decent review

The reviews quoted in all the PR are from papers like News Of The World or radio stations, not the broadsheets that most people count when it comes to theatre reviews.

[clarkstallings]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 11:12am

Saying that the show "mystified" critics is not saying they loved it. He's saying the critics in the West End didn't necessarily get the show, but despite that, the show still managed to find an audience. "Mystified" isn't a positive, especially in the context in which he used it.

[MariusPontmercy]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 11:34am

Here's a round-up of the original West End reviews:

http://www.whatsonstage.com/roundup/theatre/london/E8821151573441/Review+Round-up:+Critics+Q+Up+to+Praise+Avenue%3F.html

And the reviews of the re-opening this year weren't much better:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2009/jul/02/avenue-q-review

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturecritics/charlesspencer/5699877/Avenue-Q-at-the-Gielgud-Theatre---review.html


As a Brit it pains me to say it, but our critics really shouldn't review musicals.