Gotta Love AVENUE Q

Despite the draining and roller coaster ride of the week, I think I may have started my weekend right. Last night, I was able to watch a really kick-ass farewell play of Avenue Q. Now, for those who are "disgusted" with plays, well you really don't know what you're missing. Plays are not infested with gay men, if that's what you're worried about. So what if it does? They're all fashionably cultural. A play is not snobbish, although sometimes it projects to be, but a play is a way of live storytelling. Watching a play is watching a raw, modern storytelling art. It's not supposed to be hard and complicated. Although do not envision the plays to be as simple as those that you did in school. In this kind of plays, you can feel every ounce of professional hard work, passion, effort and artistic displays of the actors and actresses that make plays an exhilarating experience.

My good friend Lalah, who works in the production department, spotted me two tickets in front row balcony. My friend Tim, who is also a play enthusiast, couldn't be able to make it due to some law-review schedules; and I'm afraid almost everyone I asked shied away from plays. I could've watched alone actually. I'll be taken on a joyful ride anyway, but my dear Mitch obliged to go with me (For the sake of going). Needless to say, he hates plays. It will never be his cup of tea. He curses it every chance he gets and puts him in a very uneasy and foul mood. It started off rough though. I wouldn't know if he would scream and just loose it, but it all sailed well at the end. He might be a little bit weirded out with the whole singing, theatrical acting with puppets and feel of it all, but I appreciate the effort. (And he managed to laugh at one point)



Anyways, I watched Avenue Q without any specific expectations. I just wanted it to be great, since I haven't watched a play in a very long time. I wanted it to be very entertaining, but I'm not sure with the whole concept of using puppets. This is the first play that I've seen wherein theater actors will use puppets on stage. How would they do it? Well they did it brilliantly. Here the actors are appearing on stage, full with expressions, only they bring with them puppets that they flawlessly manipulate. Whenever actors sing or invoke emotions, the puppets would follow suit. Is the whole process distracting? Hardly. These actors, even though you know that they're there, can see their faces and their whole being, is not a source of distraction. You would be even amused on how the puppets that they manipulate so close could be somehow brought to life. What they did took a lot of practice, and some actors are even doing dual roles. So the actors using puppets is never a problem.

Second, the plot of the story might throw you off. Do not expect that since they are using puppets, patterned to the characters of Sesame Street, that it's a sickly kiddie show, because it's not. They discuss real-life problems with subject matters very rated R. Of course they discuss in a funny and musical way, but they do cuss and swear and do pornographic scenes that it's best to leave the kids out of it, lest they develop a twisted image of it. But it's downright funny. The songs that they used were very entertaining, lively and no bs.

The play started off with Princeton, a newly graduate of college, seeks employment and begins his life by renting in an Avenue Q apartment. There he sings "What do you do with a B.A. in English?" Which is so funny and sad when you think about it. Upon stumbling at Avenue Q, he meets other main characters like Katie Monster, who wants to find someone who will love her and have decent date. He also meets Brian, a caucasian wannabe comedian who is married to the motherly Japanese Christmas Eve. He also meets room mates under perpetual discord, Rod, the closeted gay and Nicky, Rod's object of fantasy. Trekkie (the Monster), who is addicted to porn, stays at the second floor and Gary Coleman, the has-been child superstar is Avenue Q's superintendent. Other characters are the bad voices carebears and Lucy the Slut. There, the lives of these characters are greatly magnified, intertwined and told, which leaves for a very strong and dynamic plot.

Modern day issues are discussed that might need some very shocking sensitive details. Surviving college in a tough world is one, the challenge of finding your purpose (very true!!), relationships, stigma of gays, racism, internet as porn and adult R stuff that made the audience giggle with familiarity and delight. So never underestimate this play.



Bravo to the actors whom I saw last night. They did well and they're all amazing! I think the girl who played Katie Monster and Lucy the Slut was Carla Guevarra, who is very effective and a great powerful singer. The lead guy who plays Princeton and Rod was excellent as well as hilarious. Trekkie and Nicky played by Joel Trinidad were very calculated. The actors who played Brian, Christmas Eve and Gary Coleman supported the whole beam. I was expecting though that Aiza Seguerra was the one playing Gary Coleman, but the substitute was very effective all the same.

So, I implore you to watch Avenue Q. It's a really good play and I'm not saying this because I've just watched it (and I love the songs). But I've seen a couple of plays before and this is definitely one of the best. It's entertaining, it's challenging and the plot is very relevant to whatever we, as adults are experiencing now. Bills. Relationships. Purpose. Career and Sex. What more can you ask for?

Songs that I LOVE in the Play!

1. IT Sucks to be Me (Avenue Q Cast)
2. If You were Gay (Rod and Nicky) --- This one is hilarious
3. Purpose --- (Princeton) Kind of makes you wanna sigh and reflect
4. The Internet is Porn -- Katie Monster and Monster --- another Hilarious Rated-R number!
5. You can be as Loud as the Hell you want --- See puppets doing...Rated R things! Ha-ha
6. There's a Fine Fine Line -- For the all the Girls out there!
7. Schadenfreude --- Gary Coleman and Nicky (Being happy in the misfortune of others!)