Avenue Q -- BWay 2003, Tours all over, Off BWay 2009

Book:  Jeff Whitty
Music:  Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx
Lyrics:  Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx

I watched the 2009 Off BWay in 2014 at the New World Stages (March 2nd, the night Lopez won his EGOT!!!)



This musical is a lovely blend between episodic-like scenes and songs that still maintain an overall and purposeful arc.  The transitions, seemed to be really smooth, even though there would often be a post-applause button that drew my attention more than once.

The puppets are a really awesome addition to the show.  I found myself watching the actors SLIGHTLY more than the puppets, as they made more facial gestures, etc.  But the synchronicity with which they moved together was incredible.  The actors were their charactes.  Like when the lady helping out with and Nicky and Trekkie Monster was doing the extra hand (Maggie Lakis), she was actively mimicking (only not mimicking, cause it was very specific) the facial expressions of the main puppeteer (Jason Jacoby), who by the way had an awesome Ernie impression).
Princeton/Rod (Darren Bluestone) was INCREDIBLE as far as specificity, though I thought his voice was not as dead on as it could have been.  The notes seemed a little bit out of his range, but I was certainly able to forgive that for his UBERcrisp specificity.

Kate Monster (Veronica Kuehn) was not seeming to enjoy it as much as the rest of the cast.  She enjoyed her Lucy the Slut more, but Kate, there wasn't much of a sparkle in her eye.

Brian (Nicholas Kohn) was brilliant, and really lived in the world.
Christmas Eve (Sala Iwamatsu) was similarly brilliant, over the top and... I was kind of offended by her stereotypical performance.  Which is maybe the point?  I guess it was all in good fun.
Gary Coleman (Danielle K. Thomas) felt very at home.  Her performance was all in good fun, no doubt about it.




As for songs:
"Everyone's a Little Bit Racist" while brilliant lyrically, was kind of generic as far as melody and harmony.  The same thing happened too many times, and I was disappointed by it.

In contrast, "The More You Ruv Someone" wasn't that great lyrically.  I don't remember how I feel about it as far as music.

"I'm Not Wearing Underwear Today" functions very well in the context of the show.  When I first encountered the show (in the songbook) I was worried that it was a big song without much content to it.  But it is meant to function as a transition, and is BRILLIANT for that.

Also the animations are quite amusing.  They add a lot to the show, though they're perhaps not in the same art style as the puppets, which was a little distracting (more MS Paint, Allie Brosh with less skill).