LV Trims Avenue Q

[mlsheehan]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 3:17pm

According to Mike Weatherford in the Las Vegas Review-Journal...

"The musical "Avenue Q" is now missing more than just its intermission. The Broadway show will clock in between 89 and 96 minutes, losing two songs and some dialogue from the original version."

"For those familiar with "Q," the new version cuts the second act opener, "There is Life Outside Your Apartment." The first-act closer, "There's a Fine, Fine Line" moves to a later spot in the show, replacing "I Wish I Could Go Back to College."


Mike Weatherford's Column

[Corine2]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 3:20pm

How can anyone cut out those great songs.
;-(
THAT REALLY SUCKS!
When you have a work of art do you cut it up?
THAT IS REALLY A SHAME. They moved Fine, Fine Line to the second act? Would you cut up a Monet? I say see Q in New York!

(There is a fine, fine line between art and a waste of your time)
@-@



Updated On: 1/19/06 at 03:20 PM

[mlsheehan]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 3:25pm

I'm glad I got to see the full length version. I didn't see a lot that I would cut.

I believe instead of cutting the show, they should do a more "normal" 8 performance week with the full show. However, I'm not a casion exec with " $ " signs in my eyes.

[Corine2]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 3:28pm

I'm sorry, Avenue Q is my favorite show of all time and I can't imagine missing any of the songs. It is the same thing as cutting up a Monet painting to fit it on a wall.
Avenue Q IS A WORK OF ART.
This is so wrong. UGH!

Updated On: 1/19/06 at 03:28 PM

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 4:11pm

Cutting "Life Outside Your Apartment"?! That is such a hilarious song! And " I wish I could go back to college"??? So many people that I have taken to see the show relate to that song. Damn. I never planned on seeing the vegas version and now I truley don't want to see it! Yuck yuck yuck!

[Mike3]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 4:18pm

The first time I saw Avenue Q on Broadway (in previews) they did not perform "Life Outside Your Apartment". We ran into John Tartaglia later that night and told him that we thought the show was ready to open. They still had a few weeks left in previews. He told us that they were still juggling a few things, including whether or not that song was necessary. He said that the consensus was that it should stay. I went back later that week and it was back in. I found it hilarious and am glad it's in the Broadway production. I'm not surprised they are revisiting it for Las Vegas given their desire to trim the production.

[kasim]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 4:23pm

that sucks, i had thought of seeing that show in vegas too.

Oh well ... guess i will just wait and go to vegas for the next Mry Olympia intead.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 4:31pm

Sell-outs! I've now lost all respect for the creators of Avenue Q.

[catharsis]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 4:52pm

That's absolutely awful. What a shame, cutting down such a great show. I might even rethink seeing it, if I ever get back to Vegas. It works so well as a whole, too, changing it just seems wrong.

[emo_geek]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 6:49pm

Fine Fine line does feel like a 2nd act song... and hmmmmm well I hope these changes help the show. I got to see both casts (same night...I wanted to compare) and loved it.

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 6:57pm

I saw this information but didn't know what 2 songs they cut!! "Life Outside your Apartment" is my theme song!

The first time I saw it my mom nudged me with her elbow and said excitedly "*My name,* this is your theme song!* I will never forget that!!
That song totally describes me with every single word!!!

Seriously though- every single Avenue Q song relates to people in some way or another and taking out a song or two is going to lose some of it's humor.

Corine- I did find it quite amusing how you related it to cutting a piece of artwork to fit on the wall; it was a clever analogy.

Updated On: 1/19/06 at 06:57 PM

[mlsheehan]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 6:58pm

Ok, how can you have an Act 2 song when there isn't an Act 2?

But I do see you point, that it seems to belong later in the show.

[Hairspraydoll]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 7:16pm

"IT IS SAD PEOPLE OF LAS VEGAS Can't appreciate art when they see it."

Um can we rephrase this? I live in Las Vegas, have seen the show twice and loved it. Those of us who live here are not, I repeat NOT, in support of all the cutting going on. We think it's awful that the powers that be do this too!

[Parks]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 7:18pm

I think it's ok--they're trying to save the show.

I think it's not a bad move that they're moving Fine Fine Line to where it's being moved. That's an appropriate place to put it. I'm not happy that they're taking out There Is Life Outside Your Apartment, but there are worse things they could have done.

It is a little bit sad that they're taking parts of the show out, because then it isn't the real deal, but if it works, then it's for the best.

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 7:20pm

Most musicals that transfer to LV usually get trimmed down.

It's not a big deal. But they are cutting two great songs.

[Corine2]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 7:23pm

Sorry Hairspray Doll,
I don't understand the logic of removing two wonderful songs.
Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez wrote a thrilling piece of art, if anything I wish they would add "Tear It Up AND THROW IT AWAY"
There is one song that I would not care if they cut;
The underwear song ( I have never cared for it) but the others have to be in the show.
Life Outside Your Apartment is such a wonderful song.
AH, KIDS EVERYTHING IN VEGAS IS ONLY FOR NOW....
Hope this is not true.
I think I will tear up this thread and throw it away.


Updated On: 1/19/06 at 07:23 PM

[Hairspraydoll]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 7:25pm

No prob Corine!!!

I get why they do it, but it still sucks. BUT why is it that Mamma Mia has stayed full length all this time? It proves all the theories wrong. Full length shows cans survive. I just don't think a single min. should be cut from Q.

Grrrr....

[Popular]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 7:30pm

I may be seeing it in Vegas on Sunday. I've seen it in NY as well so I'll let you know how I feel about the differences.

[Becky2]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 7:32pm

I don't like this trend, first they cut down Phantom, now Avenue Q?

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 7:41pm

I love I Wish I Could Go Back to College, but it is probably one of the easier songs to remove from the show. That isn't to say it's unnecessary, just that it's more self-contained than other numbers. I thought the show in New York felt a bit on the short side as it was, but I can't imagine feeling quite satisfied with this mini version.

then again, "Everyone's a little bit unsatisfied."

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 7:51pm

I don't think that Avenue Q won't be the same without these two songs.
However, if one has never seen it and doesn't know these two songs existed, then they won't really miss anything. I'm not quite sure the point of cutting down the showtime but obviously there is. I guess it's trial and error. If the way it has been wasn't working too well, perhaps trying a new way will work better. The creators have produced a wonderful, lively show. I'm sure they are doing their best to do what is best. They are not cutting these songs to 'piss people off.' Maybe your idea's of cutting other songs are problamatic and that is why they chose these two songs.
All we can do is hope for the best!

"You can please some people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all the time."

Updated On: 1/19/06 at 07:51 PM

[Corine2]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 8:04pm

Thanks, SweetQ.
I can't imagine the show in a mini version. At least they left in IT SUCKS TO BE ME. (My favorite song)

[Hairspraydoll]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 8:05pm

Can we protest? A shortened Q, Hairspray and Phantom....not fair. Glad I have seen them all already.

[dotmarie]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 8:12pm

Thank goodness I saw the show before they decided to cut it. Aggg! Those songs are two of the best in the show.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 8:14pm

I Wish I Could Go Back to College is one of my favorite songs! That's too bad.