Music and Lyrics by Robert Lopez & Jeff Marx
Toronto (August 2008) Production Directed by Jason Moore
“I’m kind of pretty, and pretty damned smart.”
“You are.”
“Thanks! I like romantic things, like music and art, and as you know I have a gigantic heart! So why don’t I have a boyfriend? F-CK! It sucks to be me!”
OK…there really is no way any of my words are going to adequately do any sort of justice to AVENUE Q. It exceeded all of my expectations, and the only way to appreciate it fully is to (1) SEE IT before it leaves Toronto at the end of the month, or (2) catch it the next time you’re in New York. Otherwise, my words will be nothing more than unworthy echoes of this zenith of theatrical magnificence.
That said, this is a blog, so…what CAN I tell you about this sumptuous production? Hmm…
(1) If you grew up with Sesame Street — or any kind of exposure to PBS or TVOntario shows — then not only will you appreciate the blisteringly hot comedy, but you will also appreciate the exquisite Henson-quality puppets AND the brilliant satire on teaching “children” at home (complete with giant TV screens that lower from the ceiling to deliver animated teaching moments that range between ridiculously subtle and outrageously raunchy).
(2) The performances were all first rate, but I must single out a few of them. First of all, stratospheric kudos to Robert McClure & Anika Larsen. Not only were their voices heavenly (Larsen in particular has a voice dripping of pure golden honey), but their ability to handle multiple puppet characters (at times, simultaneously) boggles my mind. Secondly, Angela Ali as Christmas Eve — as non-P.C. a Japanese immigrant character as you can possibly get away with, but she milks every bit of comic potential in the role, and she manages to keep her outrageous accent intact through some of the most complicated musical numbers. Finally, there is Danielle K. Thomas as Gary Coleman (yes…THAT Gary Coleman…stay with me). Not only does she have the one-time child star’s catch-phrases down pat, she enhances a surprisingly brilliant character with a broad range of humour I didn’t believe would translate well from script to stage. But she proved me wrong…
GO SEE AVENUE Q! That’s all I can say. This is two hours of your life you will cherish. It is intelligent and witty and insanely funny the way most productions WISH they could be intelligent and witty and insanely funny. You will laugh until your internal organs beg for mercy. It will melt the heart of the most concrete mishanthrope that you know, and it will drag the hidden child kicking and screaming from the depths of your soul. You will walk out of the theatre humming and smiling and thinking you can fly because you’ll be positively light-headed. Easily the best $58 I’ve ever spent. :D
10+
If all else fails, go buy the soundtrack… ;-)
