The " I walked out of Avenue Q at intermission because I thought it was insipid,self referential and had an elementary score" thread- Page 3

[MissNY]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 1:34pm

New at the Tony's refers to when it came out, not an original concept. However, the uniqueness of Ave Q's puppets is definately part of the appeal. If it were the same show minus the puppets I don't think I'd enjoy it that much

QtKt--I love your icon, Rab Sapp is totally awesome

[Justice]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 1:34pm

By the way people..In winning the Tony there are politics involved. Q won, simply for the fact that they were promoting their show all over the place, passing out buttons that said "Vote Q" (I have a couple of them). They also promised, at a press meeting, that they would start touring after the Tony's. This heightened their chances in the winning category.

Posted: 2/27/05 at 1:41pm

I'll just throw in a couple observations:

1) I just don't understand how the "Niceness" of the cast makes a difference. Frankly I don't care if you are Hitler offstage, it's all about that 2 hours & 20 minutes you are onstage.

2) Similarly, I feel bad for people who dislike a show because it's "Overhyped" or "Over rated." If reviews and opinions affect you so much, you should stay away from them or at least try to develop your own taste. It always amazes me that people will dislike a show because other people liked it too much.

3) Walking out at intermission is a pretty desparate act. I'm curious what you did with the hour or so you saved by walking out? I'm usually of the opinion that it can't hurt to see the rest of it. Even a really awful show usually has one nice number of performance.

[Justice]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 1:42pm

Agreed. I waited until Linda Eder died before walking out of Jeckyl & Hyde.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 1:45pm

Although I certainly agree that leaving at intermission is drastic, there have been a few times when I have been in that position and really had to think about whether I wanted to subject myself to another hour or so of crap. I almost walked out of THE PRODUCERS, NEVER GONNA DANCE, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES and GOOD VIBRATIONS, but was persuaded by my friend to stay. The only thing I have walked out of was BYE BYE BIRDIE at City Center, and I don't regret that one bit.

Justice: Hahahahaha!

[OrdinaryJukebox1]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 1:45pm

I can't help but notice, and I believe I've pointed it out before, how on this board, there's a slight double standard. I keep reading, "If 'Avenue Q' wasn't the best, it wouldn't have won the Tony," or "You can hate it, but I love it and so did most of the Tony voters..." Yet, when Idina Menzel is discussed, it's instant, "The Tony's made a HUGE mistake," and "they don't know what they're doing." Let's make up our minds, people. You can't praise the Tony's for agreeing with what you like, but then bad mouth the same association for awarding someone you hate. It just makes no sense. This thread alone, I'm reading, "It's rude to walk out and say bad things, the cast works hard..." Yep, I agree 100%!! Yet, we have "Thank God "Wicked" didn't win," and other such words of..."kindness"? That show, like any other, has a cast that works their butts off as well.

-Vincent

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 1:48pm

"When I first got it, I thought it was a great, funny cd. Now, I don't even really listen to it. It is like the songs aren't funny anymore."

That is exactly how I, and and people I know, feel.
Loved it at first. Now barely like it.
It is because their is little musical sophistication to keep your ear interested and many of the songs are one-joke songs.
The songs I am not tired of, coincidentely, are the more "uncomical" ones, 'Purpose,' 'There'a A Fine, Fine Line' and 'The More You Ruv Someone'

Updated On: 2/27/05 at 01:48 PM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 1:51pm

To really find any merit in what you're saying, you would have to track every members' post and see exactly what they said about it on other threads - impossible. You can also agree and disagree with winners, but not use it as proof that something is good.

You agree that it's rude to walk out of a show and say bad things? I don't. As a paying audience member it's your job to leave saying whatever you please. If it's terrible, and someone asks, I'll tell them it's terrible. No point in lying. After the final preview of NEVER GONNA DANCE one of the producers wanted my opinion on the show - and I told him that I thought it was absolutely terrible and should have never made it to Broadway. He was very happy that I told him the truth, offered me a free ticket (which I turned down) and said that he suspected that I was right. Being honest is a good thing.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 1:51pm

I never walk out of anything because if I don't like a show, I want to be able to give an informed reason (to myself AND others) of why I didn't care for it. Also, I always learn a lot from theater I don't like- what didn't work about the book, were the actors miscast, what parts of the score were better than others, what else have the writers written and how was it comparable, etc. Plus, I would never leave out of respect for the actors and creative team. They deserve an audience that views their art in its entirety before judging it.
My mother made me leave Carousel at intermission when I was seven years old, and I have always resented her for it.

[OrdinaryJukebox1]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 1:51pm

SticktoPriest, this is not meant to be offensive, so please don't take it that way. However, almost every time I read a post from you, it's usually how you dislike a show, or don't care for it very much. Clearly you like "Sweeny Todd," or at least that song. What else do you enjoy?

-Vincent

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 1:55pm

Well shows that I have recently seen in New York that I loved include Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Hysterical and a brilliant, WITTY score), Hairspray (Fun show with an intelligent book and score), Pacific Overtures (Well, that one was kinda a given), The 25th Anual Putnam County Spelling Bee (BRILLIANT!), etc.

Maybe you're reading the wrong threads, because I don't dislike that many shows. I don't dislike Avenue Q, either. It just got tired very quickly to me.

[QtKt]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 4:21pm

MissNY~ Thanks! I adore him... the picture was taken at Monday Nights New Voices at Duplex on Feb 21st... I like yours also! David Ayers was my first Fiyero...!

[Raggy Q poo]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 4:40pm

*READS THROUGH ALL THESE POSTS and......DIES*

[hortonhearsasam]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 5:21pm

I agree. It is insipid and the score is elementary. But I like the show.

That's the point! The show is supposed to be reminiscent of Sesame Street. A lot of the humor is derived from the shock value of seeing the puppets that look and sound and act like they SHOULD be on Sesame Street singing about porn and sex and racism.

Don't get me wrong; I'm not in love with this show (I'm with you--Caroline should have won hands down), but I do enjoy it. And I think that the insipidness and simplicity of the score are tools that the composer/lyricists have used to evoke the feeling that they want.

[Dolly_Levi]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 5:52pm

posted by Munk above: "Avenue Q's book, score, cast, and overall show are far FAR better crafted that the drivel in THE PRODUCERS, which has some of the most predictable, truly un-funny jokes I have ever heard."


Dolly says: *Are you freakin' kiddin' me??? I absolutely adored The Producers. I wouldn't say that Avenue Q was even in the same league.

However, to each his own.

Updated On: 2/27/05 at 05:52 PM

[Matt_G]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 5:56pm

I, for one, didn't care for THE PRODUCERS. I chuckled in a few parts but for the most part it did nothing for me. AVENUE Q, URINETOWN and DIRTY ROTTEN... are the three shows that have made me laugh harder than any other in the past 10 years.

[TGIF]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 6:23pm

When I first got the CR for Avenue Q, I listened to it once then didn't go back to it for months. I almost felt guilty for not getting what everyone else loved.

However, I do think that my not listening to it before seeing the show worked out for the best. As friends said, and also people on this thread, that listening to the CD so often it took away from seeing it live.

I, for one, loved the show. It was fresh and new and witty, and for me to enjoy the score I needed to see it live and in context to enjoy. However, I do not think it deserved the Tony for best score. Taboo should have one for that (I cannot comment on CoC - I haven't heard the CR).

Updated On: 2/27/05 at 06:23 PM

[CurtainUp]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 8:27pm

A few comments: back up your reasoning with details.

and Mainly, the score is SUPPOSED to be elementary, therein lies the irony!! If the score were not elementary, the entire concept wouldn't work. Sesame Street wasn't composed by Sondheim! Personally, I think it takes genius to make the elementary lyrics so clever, but to each his own.
*EDIT: I agree with Horton.

Updated On: 2/27/05 at 08:27 PM

[ShuQ]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 8:36pm

Well said CurtainUp. That's SO true. And I do think it's takes talent to create that cleverness.

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 9:28pm

To Vincent
Having the puppeteers visable onstage actually occured by chance
When the show was workshopping, the actors would hold the puppets up while they sang and acted the show and getting a fake wall at the time was just too impractical
But the audience loved it and came up to the creators saying how neat it was to see the puppeteers do their craft. So they kept it Updated On: 3/1/05 at 09:28 PM

[SeeIreallycouldn'tSING!!]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 10:35pm

Wile I would NEVER EVER walk out of a show, no matter how bad (I mean I sat through Into The Woods...god) but I can't blame this person. I agree totally.

[Corine2]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 10:46pm

I personally can't believe this thread exists.
Everyone is entitled to an opinion. Personally though, Q moved me more then any other show i have seen.
Last year i saw 170 performances.
And Q was my favorite.
I love the music, the performers and the brilliance that is called Q.
So if you don't like Q, IT SUCKS TO BE YOU.

[Raggy Q poo]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 10:47pm

I'm not talking to all the people here...actually, most of you I am not talking to because I think most of you have given substancial evidence of why you don't like the show instead of just trashing it but for those who are just throwing it out, why?

You are entitled to disagree with people's opinions. You are entitled to dislike a show. But to throw irrational statements out is wrong. If you want to say something, try saying it either with some backround info or constructive criticism. Perosnally I love Avenue Q but if it was a show I hated, I wouldn't go typing some of the things you people have typed here.

You never know who reads these things. You could be offending people, not only the fans, but the directors and perhaps the actors/actresses of the show.
You can't please everybody all of the time but if you were to work so hard on something, would you want people spitting in your face at how bad it really had to be for YOU to walk out? I didn't think so. Have some respect....

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 10:48pm

I hope you're tlaking about the revival or INTO THE WOODS...

[Jwei123]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 10:49pm

i agree 100% with corine