So Gary Coleman IS in the London Ave Q?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 6/29/06 at 10:39pm

I thought they were changing the character to a UK personality? What happened with this idea? They just changed it to a male, right?actor?

[luvliza89]

Posted: 6/29/06 at 10:41pm

In my understanding, he is never refered to as Gary Coleman. But he's supposed to be a former child star who is sick of people coming up to him and saying "Hey aren't you dead?".

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 6/29/06 at 10:42pm

It seems like they just changed it to a male and made some small changes- nothing like they were supposed to do.

I think they got a lot of feedback from "Londoners" that they knew who Gary Coleman was and that it didn't need to be changed.

I THINK that's how it is.

Edit: Yes, I believe he is just refered to as Gary but he portrays Gary Coleman more than what it was supposed to be.

Updated On: 6/29/06 at 10:42 PM

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 6/29/06 at 10:42pm

It was originally an out of work actor named "Job."

But, the idea was scrapped. I guess they believed the UK would get the Gary Coleman reference.

I hear it gets just as many laughs as in the states.

[luvliza89]

Posted: 6/29/06 at 10:45pm

They must have changed it, because I know it was like that in previews, that he wasn't fully Gary Coleman.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 6/29/06 at 10:45pm

So all the Gary Coleman jokes are gone? That's the best part!

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 6/29/06 at 10:46pm

As I've heard, Yes, the original character was "Job" (I'm assuming it refers to "get a Job.")

Then, they changed it to Gary, a former child star, alluding to Gary Coleman. Never do they say "I'm Gary Coleman, from TV's Diffrent Strokes..." That material has been cut.

[luvliza89]

Posted: 6/29/06 at 10:47pm

OK, that's what I thought.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 6/29/06 at 10:48pm

So what does he sing when he enters?

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 6/29/06 at 10:51pm

I'm not sure anyone knows except people who've seen it in London.

I think it's like 4:00am there so I'm sure we'll get an answer in the morning.

I think I read that EugLoven and MrBundles have seen it.

Edit: In this article https://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=10633 it says: "Gary Coleman (Giles Terera), a former TV star turned poverty-stricken superindendent."

Also, on the Avenue Q london Website it describes each character (and puppet) For Gary, it says:

GARY

Personality: Frustrated.
Occupation: Major child celebrity (20 years ago). Avenue Q's handyman (now).
Hobbies: Getting to the next day with some dignity intact.
Quote: "Sometimes there's no light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes it's all just tunnel."

Updated On: 6/29/06 at 10:51 PM

[blueroses]

Posted: 6/29/06 at 10:58pm

Bobby, he should sing this:

Now the world don't move to the beat of just one drum
What might be right for you, may not be right for some
A man is born, he's a man of means
Then along come two, they got nothin' but their jeans
But they got Diff'rent Strokes
It takes Diff'rent Strokes
It takes Diff'rent Strokes to move the world

Everybody's got a special kinda story
Everybody finds a way to shine
It don't matter that you got
not a lot
so what?
They'll have theirs, you'll have yours and I'll have mine
And together we'll be fine,

Cause it takes Diff'rent Strokes to move the world, yes it does
It takes Diff'rent Strokes to move the world! Mmmm...

[Alie]

Posted: 6/30/06 at 1:53pm

As far as I'm aware, they've changed the character (and lyrics) back to the original version. I think the only difference now is that he's played by a man - although one of the u/s for Gary is female.

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 6/30/06 at 2:00pm

There are definitely some changes. However, they are much less than what they were supposed to be.

There is only 1 that I am definite about and that is that the name is now Gary and not Gary Coleman.

[joshy]

Posted: 6/30/06 at 6:43pm

His name is now Gary Coleman in the London production. The first lines he sings are different to the ones sung in New York, but I can't remember what they are.

[MrBundles]

Posted: 6/30/06 at 8:19pm

he IS gary coleman, and all londoners know who gary coleman is....the first few lines are changed, but he still is gary coleman

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 6/30/06 at 8:24pm

Oh- ok.

Because on the London Avenue Q website it just says "Gary" as opposed to the American Avenue Q website where it says "Gary Coleman"

[joshy]

Posted: 7/1/06 at 7:08am

Yeah, they haven't updated the website since previews began. When previews started he was just called Gary and they referred to him as "that kid who used to be famous." After a few days they realised that the Gary Coleman reference worked and so changed it back, but they still haven't changed the website. :)