Theatre Review: Avenue Q: A Beautiful Play for our Neighborhood There are so many superlatives I want to throw at Avenue Q, currently in previews and opening July 31st at the Golden Theatre, that I risk burying my message underneath a mountain of adulatory roses, so let me begin simply: Go see this musical. It is by far the best thing on Broadway and the most exciting and heart-warming piece of theatre I have ever seen on the Broadway stage. With a cast that has the committed passion that the original cast of Rent had when that show first moved to Broadway, a cleverness that is sarcastic, but never caustic and relevance to real life that most "serious" dramatists can only aspire to, this is the musical to see if you don't like musical theatre. In fact, there is not a person I know who I could not guarantee will enjoy this show. As you may have noticed from the posters canvassing town, Avenue Q stars puppets. Yes, it's Sesame Street for twenty-something's. The brainchild of Robert Lopez, Jeff Marx, and Jeff Whitty, Avenue Q is about my friends, your friends, and all the people you meet at your local neighborhood dive bar. Our hero (and a puppet), Princeton, has just graduated from college and moves to Avenue Q to find his "purpose". With the help of his neighbors, which include a closeted Republican, a sweet sensitive monster, and Gary Coleman, Princeton learns some Important Life Lessons- as is evidenced by song titles like "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist" and "The Internet is for Porn". This is one of those shows that could easily dissolve into too-clever-for-its-own-good winking. That it doesn't is due in a large part to the infectiously spirited and emotionally honest cast, both the human "friends" and the puppeteers themselves. John Tartaglia, the puppeteer for Princeton, is a standout. He's sweet without ever becoming saccharine and easily wins you over with his honesty and affection. Too often Broadway appeals only to the "theatre crowd" and ignores the other groups that make up this city, especially, well- me. Avenue Q is the musical of our generation. Go see it. Avenue Q is now playing at The John Golden Theatre (252 W. 45th Street). Tickets are $20 - $86.25 and available at the box office or through Tele-charge at 212-239-6200. Special Rush ticket lottery: Prior to each performance, a limited number of first row orchestra seats will be sold via lottery at the theatre for $21.25. Potential ticket buyers are asked to line up in front of the theatre and print their own name and the number of tickets requested on a card provided. Duplications will be disqualified. Cards are available starting at 5:30pm for 8pm shows and 11:30am for 2pm matinees. There is a limit of one card and two tickets per person. Daily drawings will be held two hours prior to each performance. After the names are drawn, eligible ticket buyers will line up at the box office window to show proper identification to purchase their tickets. At the conclusion of the lottery, no additional $21.25 tickets will be available for that performance.

posted by Japhy at 7/21/2003 01:44:00 PM || #