THE SUN IS SHINING, IT'S A LOVELY DAY: Ten years ago this evening, Avenue Q made its Broadway debut. Here's "It Sucks to Be Me," from the 2004 Tonys.
No, we don't understand the existence of a school edition, and we may feel a little guilty about its having beaten Wicked for Best Musical, but for now there's happiness. (But only for now.)
I have no guilt about that win, though Wicked is a very good show.
ReplyDeleteIt's really hitting the small professional/community theater circuit in the Philly area hard lately. Mazeppa Productions just finished a run in Old City...outstanding puppetry and a mostly spot-on cast. For anyone who has only listened to the soundtrack (as I had until recently), find somewhere to see it soon. Everything that's already funny is even moreso in context.
ReplyDeleteThat must be why I woke up whistling "the internet is for porn" this morning: Some kind of hivemind surge that jumped outside its primary fan base and gave me an earworm.
ReplyDeleteThe whole 2003-04 season was extraordinarily strong--not just Q and Wicked, but also Caroline or Change (which I admired more than I enjoyed), I Am My Own Wife, The Boy From Oz (a mediocre show that nonetheless featured a spectacular performance from Jackman), the Wonderful Town revival with Donna Murphy, the Deaf West Big River, Assassins, and Taboo (which I didn't see, but which has a STRONG cult following).
ReplyDeleteTo me, Avenue Q is a million times more enjoyable than Wicked. I barely remembered any songs from Wicked after I left the theater but Avenue Q songs have stayed with me for years.
ReplyDeleteAnd I serenaded someone this morning with "I'm Not Wearing Underwear Today." The hive mind at work.
ReplyDeleteHaving only finally seen Wicked earlier this year, I have no guilt that Avenue Q won for best show. And, amazingly, for a show that is very much of its time, it doesn't yet feel dated.
ReplyDeleteAt my most harsh, I think that Wicked is two good songs in search of a good story. I like Wicked, but I fricking love Avenue Q. No guilt at all, for its Tony win. Avenue Q was also the first musical I actually saw *on Broadway*, so I always think fondly of it for that too.
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