FINALLY Saw "Avenue Q" !!!

[testing123]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 11:26pm

Finally saw "Avenue Q" on Thursday nite. John was out, but Barrett Foa was amazing !!

The show is really a revelation ! The score is great.. The lyrics are ingenious. The audience was pumped from the minute the show started !

We absolutely loved it, and I have never laughed so hard at a Broadway show before. The cast members are so talented. I was wondering before the show if I would be looking at them more,
or the puppets more, but the performers really bring the puppets to life, so I found myself by mid-show focusing almost entirely on the puppets.

The use of the TV screens, if that is what they are called, is great.
Adds another dimension to the show.

Overall, a great show, and will definitely going back. (Have tix for June 25th)

Okay....so, having said all of this... If I had a vote, "Wicked" would be my choice for Best Musical. Don't get me wrong.. We absolutely loved "Q". I have been listening to the CD all day. Bought a shirt.. Loved it! I think the what people look for in musicals varies a lot, and its very subjective. I am not here to start a "Wicked Got Ripped Off" thread. There is no way to prove that. Just like I kind of laugh reading all of the "The voters finally got it right" and the "the better show won" posts. Like I said, the voting is too subjective.

I can only post my own opnion. I need a couple of times during the show when I say "WOW!!". I need moments when the hair on my neck stands. I felt that at "Wicked". I did not feel that at "Q". I like set changes, and there is usually a set during a show that I say... "wow, this is cool"... didnt feel that way at "Q". Felt that way at "Wicked" when they got to the Emerald City, and everything goes green.

Same thing with costume changes. These are things that I look for. Doesnt mean that everyone looks at things the same way (that would be boring if everyone did). But, to each his/her own, and these are the things that make me think of great musicals. Is "Wicked" a great musical? To me, yes... to others, maybe not. To me, its everything that a musical should be. While others don't like the "Wicked" score, I love it (take out the two Joel Grey songs, and I would love it more, but anyway....) The performances in "Q" are very solid, and I agree with others that Ann Harada should have received a Tony nom, but "Wicked", in my opinion, has two incredible performances by KC and Idina. They make me want to go back for more and more.

For us, "Q" is a great Broadway experience. I have not stopped telling people in my office that they MUST see it. "Wicked" for us is magic...

Just my .02

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 11:38pm

Wonderful review! I'm seeing the show July 16 and I'm really excited!

[iruvyou]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 11:48pm

Oh, i'm seeing it for the first time june 27th can't wait! (sorry gov )

[nystateomind04]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 11:58pm

im seeing it TOMARROW! man, i hope john is in, i have nothing but love for understudies, but he was just too good at the tonys, i really want to see him in the show.

hey, can anybody give me directions to the john goodman theater from port athority? thanks!

[NYUstud]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 11:59pm

I'm seeing it July 7!

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 11:59pm

The John Golden Theatre.

Updated On: 6/11/04 at 11:59 PM

[nystateomind04]

Posted: 6/12/04 at 12:14am

lol, i guess john goodman isnt quite worthy of having a theater named after him.

anyway, i could still use those directions if anyone is feeling kind...

[KatePrinceton]

Posted: 6/12/04 at 12:22am

From Port Authority walk north on 8th Avenue and make a right at 45th Street. It'll be on your right. If you hit "A Raisin in the Sun," you've gone too far.

[nystateomind04]

Posted: 6/12/04 at 12:27am

thanks ! disregaurd the thread i started for that info, i wasnt sure if anyone else would read this one tonight.

[Pinguin]

Posted: 6/12/04 at 12:41am

Well, you know, one of the things I like best about Avenue Q is that it doesn't fit into the mold of what most people think a "musical" SHOULD be. I think part of what rocks is that it strays from the norm...and it doesn't bother me a bit that the costumes and set aren't the highlights of the show.

It didn't win for costumes or set :0)

Posted: 6/12/04 at 1:08am

HEY! My roomie and I saw the show for the first time Thursday night as well!!! We won the lottery and sat in the front row (two rows in front of Bernadette Peters I might add!) We absolutely loved it and both thought Barrett was wonderful (and not too bad to look at, either!)

Love,
Joshie

[iruvyou]

Posted: 6/12/04 at 8:00am

I've got a question- I'm in the 3rd row but i'm kinda on the side, will i not be able to see anything?

[Jon]

Posted: 6/12/04 at 8:45am

speaking of costumes - do you think the puppet costumes are made by hand or bought? I assume Lucy's dress is made, but Princeton's outfits just scream "Baby Gap"! And is that a Hello Kitty t-shirt on Kate Monster in the post-sex scene?

[bythesword84]

Posted: 6/12/04 at 9:01am

The theater is very tiny so don't worry you'll be able to see just fine.

I was there Thursday night as well, and it was my first time seeing Barrett. Good job, just that the difference vocally between his Rod and his Princeton isnt as overt as John's.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 6/12/04 at 11:21am

~ Barrett Foa is absolutely amazing. the boy is a true star.

~ As far as Wicked versus Ave Q.... your entire criteria for selecting a best musical is the set changes and costumes?? HUH?!???????

[testing123]

Posted: 6/12/04 at 3:35pm

<< ~ As far as Wicked versus Ave Q.... your entire criteria for selecting a best musical is the set changes and costumes?? HUH?!??????? >>

Nice try, but try reading the ENTIRE post instead of just picking out something to question. I said nothing about "selecting a best musical". I gave my criteria for what I personally look for in a musical, and set changes and costumes were just two of them. Also said:

<< I can only post my own opnion. I need a couple of times during the show when I say "WOW!!". I need moments when the hair on my neck stands. I felt that at "Wicked". I did not feel that at "Q". I like set changes, and there is usually a set during a show that I say... "wow, this is cool"... didnt feel that way at "Q". Felt that way at "Wicked" when they got to the Emerald City, and everything goes green. >>

Those "WOW" moments for me in "Wicked" are "The Wizard and I"...
"Defying Gravity", "No Good Deed"... most musicals that I love have a few of those moments. (Anytime BSM opens his mouth!!- "Impossible Dream", etc...)

Didnt feel that at "Q".. but still LOVED it !!

[MusicPos2]

Posted: 6/12/04 at 3:43pm

How is everyone saying that the score is so great for AVENUE Q? It's very appropriate, and the lyrics are amazing, but melodically and harmonically, it's really nothing. It's not that that's a bad thing, it isn't a score driven show, it's a story driven show, which is a good thing. I've seen John 3 times, and I loved him every time, but I really think Barret is even better. Don't be at all concerned if his name is on the board.

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 6/12/04 at 5:44pm

I'm not a complete expert on AQ puppet costumes, but I do know that Rick Lyon has said something about ringbearer suits are life savers for dressing puppets so I assume that's what Rod wears 90% of the show.

[bythesword84]

Posted: 6/12/04 at 6:33pm

Well there are different puppets for the different costumes so its not like they literally change the puppets' clothes for every scene or something.

[Hank]

Posted: 6/12/04 at 8:10pm

I kind of like set changes and stuff like that myself, and Wicked was beautiful, but Avenue Q, while kept simple, was more loveable.
I saw John Tartaglia's understudy on some TV show (I think it was CBS Sunday Monrning-but I'm not sure) and he really looked great! Glad you enjoyed him.
I saw Wicked last November and loved it, and Avenue Q the week before the Tony's. Last Sunday we wore our Q tshirts here too, and just went nuts when they won!