Avenue A+? or B or C?

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 11:17am

I saw Avenue Q when it first opened and was floored. I was absolutely amazed by it and didn't think it could be any more perfect! I'd like to take a friend to see it, but was wondering if it's "still got it", or if it's kinda been let go? How is this cast compared to the originals?...I just don't wanna be dissapointed Thanks in advance for the help!

[SNLMedia]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 11:59am

I just won the lotto Saturday night after not having seen it since last August. Surprisingly, not that many cast changes since then, but everyone is wonderful. I especially like Mary Faber, and Haneefah Wood is hilarious as Gary Coleman.

The only thing that may throw you is the changes they've incorporated that were put into the London production. For someone familiar with the original version, several different lines/cues/lyrics/verses/etc. made me do a double-take.

Overall you will not be disappointed. A+!

[ShuQ]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 1:15pm

I disagree, having seen the show five times with multiple casts, I seem to be more disappointed each time that I go. Howie Michael Johnson tries way to hard as Princeton/Rod and I just feel bad for him when he's performing. Haneefah Wood, IMHO, drives me nuts as she tries to smile and sing at the same time to pull off her idea of Gary Coleman.

There are saving graces, Ann Sanders as Christmas Eve, Mary Faber is adorable and Jenn Barnhart is always a spark, but I think it's kind of puttering compared to what I used to see w/ John & Stephanie.

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 8/13/07 at 11:10pm

I saw the show for the first time tonight. I thought I might as well catch it as I liked the cast recording well enough with its catchy and contemporary lyrics that seemingly had some heart. There was an understudy on for Princeton/Rod, and while I don't have another performance/cast to compare the one I saw too, I thought Ann Sanders was the standout. Mary Faber and Hannefah Wood were quite good too, but I thought the male leads lacked something. I can't quite articulate it though.

In any case, I wish I did not know the cast recording prior to seeing the show. It was cute and I like quirky shows, but I don't quite see the love some others have for it (admittedly, I did not see it early in the run).

On an unrelated point, the audience was insanely disrespectful at least in the rear of the orchestra. I observed the following:

- I got sworn at when I politely turned around at one point to glare at an individual singing along badly to the ending of some of the songs when she figured out the melodic hook without knowing the words. Said individual, prior the show, exclaimed she saw Nicole Kidman in Jekyll and Hyde at that theatre (uuuh what?).
- A cell phone went off and someone answered
- An individual rustled candy wrappers for the good portion of act 1.
- A young couple in front of me insisted on kissing and cuddling throughout

Edited to add: 2 rows in front of me sat a young mother and her three kids, who had to range from maybe 5-8. Is this, uuuh, common?

Updated On: 8/14/07 at 11:10 PM

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 8/13/07 at 11:53pm

I absolutely loved the cast recording, which I purchased after Tony night, and I finally saw the show a little over a year ago. Even with Barrett Foa (who was very good), I was not impressed. There are very few shows I would rather listen to, but Avenue Q is one of them. The novelty and humor of the show is the lyrics of the songs. The puppet gags die pretty quickly.

KCheno- I know you'll appreciate this. I had the canoodling couple at Apple Tree. I was second row, and I had to look around the cuddlers. GRRRRR.

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 4:30pm

so what were the changes that were incorporated? i just saw the saw a few weeks ago in san diego and only noticed one change from the CD and that was during PURPOSE where the song slowly built into a fast song... like they added an extra bar or two... what were the other changes?

[Mark_E]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 4:47pm

They cut the middle bit out of Schadenfreude when they say "Straight A students getting B's" (Atleast I think they did, ive only seen it in London).

[CapnHook]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 5:52pm

They still got it!!

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 7:45pm

I have been a huge fan of the cast recording since it came out. I took eight friends to see it back in November and we all loved it. Don't know if the cast has changed since then, I saw Howie Michael Smith as Princeton/Rod...thought he was alright, albeit adorable. Other than that I loved the show. And the rest of the cast more than made up for his not being fantastic.

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 10:06pm

I've seen the show three times since January 2006 and have loved it just as much each time. It's always been a solid A with me.

Some minor cast issues--Ann Sanders underwhelmed as Christmas Eve when I saw her in June 2006, but Minglie Chen was close to Ann Harada-level when I last saw the show in May. And Haneefah...maybe she's still settling in, but I too find the constant grin annoying after while.