Friday, March 07, 2008
Avenue Q is NOT a cynical show
Happy to see the Merc's entertainment blog tout the arrival of Avenue Q in S an Jose next year at AMT.
Think Karen D'Souza misses the mark a bit, though, when she says: "This is musical theater for the Jon Stewart generation. Cynicism is in. Sequins, out."
I found Avenue Q to be anything but cynical. In the end I loved this show as much as I did because I actually cared more for the hopes and dream of these puppets than I did about a lot of the characters I do in other big Broadway musical productions.
When Kate Monster sings "It's a Fine, Fine Line" to end Act 1, she's speaking for every one of us who has been in that "Is/he or isn't s/he interested in me?" situation...it's a modern and spot-on take on unrequited like.
I agree this is not your typical musical, and that it's a musical for people who think they ahte musicals, but I would never tell you that it doesn't have a big, big heart. because I think it does.
Think Karen D'Souza misses the mark a bit, though, when she says: "This is musical theater for the Jon Stewart generation. Cynicism is in. Sequins, out."
I found Avenue Q to be anything but cynical. In the end I loved this show as much as I did because I actually cared more for the hopes and dream of these puppets than I did about a lot of the characters I do in other big Broadway musical productions.
When Kate Monster sings "It's a Fine, Fine Line" to end Act 1, she's speaking for every one of us who has been in that "Is/he or isn't s/he interested in me?" situation...it's a modern and spot-on take on unrequited like.
I agree this is not your typical musical, and that it's a musical for people who think they ahte musicals, but I would never tell you that it doesn't have a big, big heart. because I think it does.
Labels: AMTSJ, Avenue Q, san Jose Mercury
Saturday, August 11, 2007
The Merc's Avenue Q review...how about yours?
We all know I loved Avenue Q when I saw it in NY. Here's the Merc's review of the current tour that is playing up in SF.
Key excerpt (and one with which I wholeheartedly agree):
So, have any of you seen the SF version? Thumbs up? Thumbs down? And did you see the NYC version, and how would you compare the two?
Key excerpt (and one with which I wholeheartedly agree):
Still, the real magic of “”Avenue Q'’ is not the dexterity of the puppeteers nor the wicked-cheeky dialogue. It’s the fact that we actually start caring (gulp!) about our felt-covered friends and start to see our own travails through their eyes. When a broken-hearted Kate Monster launches into her torch song, the show not only finds its heart but comes perilously close to stealing ours, as well.
So, have any of you seen the SF version? Thumbs up? Thumbs down? And did you see the NYC version, and how would you compare the two?
Labels: Avenue Q
