Random Avenue Q Thought

[dramarama2]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 3:49am

I really like this show, but theres a structural problem that has always bothered me. Why, after the opening number, do they go straight into "If You Were Gay" with Rod & Nicky. Wouldn't it make more sense to have "Purpose" before "If you Were Gay". Does anybody know why the creators put the songs in that order?

[Mark_E]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 4:01am

Im not entirely sure.

This is one of my favourite shows but I think the beginning of the first half is where they used up their big themes, and maybe they wanted to spread them out abit? Like immediately following each other would be - If you were gay, Everyones a little bit racist and Intrnet is for porn, and they wanted to spread out the more comedy numbers :S.

It works well the way it is I think but i can see what you are thinking.

[dramarama2]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 4:22am

Really, I love Avenue Q, but there are definately a few structural problems.

[goldenstate5]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 4:33am

I think it's all about structure of musicals. Nicky and Rod are a subplot. If you went right on with Princeton's main plot, it would feel like exposition overkill in just one scene. (notice how the "If You Were Gay" song splits up the scene of Princeton arriving and him thinking about his purpose) Rather than shoehorning a subplot after a supposedly big character moment (which drives the show, btw), it introduces it before. Therefore, all the little plots are established that figure into Princeton's odyssey: Kate's relationship with him, Christmas Eve's and Brian's engagment and Rod and Nicky's underlying situation. When Princeton turns on the light that is the fact that he not only wants, but needs to find his purpose, the exposition takes off into development at the appropriate moment. There's nothing more that needs to be explained and there's no other stories. Lucy, the Bad Idea Bears and Ms. T are all introduced for pure conflict reasons. Sure, Trekkie's love for porn hasn't been explained yet, but he has been introduced, and his song (and character) seems like one of the amusing quirks the show features. The fact that his character actually figures into the climax speaks to how well Jeff Whitty wrote the book, and well, this is probably why he won the Tony for it...

EDIT: BTW -- have you ever seen (or read) Avenue Q?
Updated On: 6/20/07 at 04:33 AM

[Mark_E]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 4:33am

Yeah there are deffinately afew structural/story problems with it but for a show like that I don't think they want you to look into it too deeply. Its just a fun musical.

[friedrichVT]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 4:42am

No they shouldn't go right into Purpose, because the opening number is Princeton's introduction and plea, the second number is "Sucks...." which needs to, and does,introduce most of the secondary characters . Gay is the 3rd number which introduces on one of the sublots of the secondary characters, and then returns to the protagonist's (princeton's) story...(purpose). "Gay" is also a strong comedy number... It's a pretty standard expository action of a show. Oh yea , for all its "flaws", it also won the Tony for best book. Yay,Jeff WHitty.

[auggie]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 9:26am

Been a while since I have seen this show but it seemed fine to me at the time. Going to see the tour in Cleveland and will have to check this out.

As a side note I just went to a graduation party for a young lady who majored in English and just before the mother was going to say a few words she 1st had a little song to play and then we heard "What do you do with a BA in English...." Very cute.