Naughty, Naughty Puppets!

I am reading a book called "Woman Alone" - the book discusses why it is so difficult for women to face the world "alone." Inspired by the book, and the fact that I have season tickets to Theater of the Stars at the Fox, I went to see Avenue Q tonight.

I said that I have season tickets to Theater of the Stars yet this is the first show of the season I have attended. The other shows I have missed due to business travel or just a lack of motivation (was I bothered by going alone? that doesn't make sense since I used to go alone when I was married - but then it was a treat...). As I was walking to the theater I was thinking what a modern, independent woman I am to go to the theater alone. I didn't have to barter anything in exchange for a night to myself, I didn't have to drag a complaining man along with me (though I think men would like this show), and I didn't have someone at home waiting to complain about how late I got home or how much I drank (I actually didn't drink anything but that is not the point...).

So I got in and seated. I have great seats - AA13 - first row in the loge just to the right of the "patron" seats. You can get great seats if you go to the theater alone. Still feeling strong and independent I closed my eyes and enjoyed the calliope. Yes, calliope. I walked in to When You Wish Upon A Star - it was all very lovely. The Fox is a beautiful theater - I love the faux Moroccan skyline, the twilight of the ceiling. I looked around to enjoy the beauty that is the Fox and noticed that the entire place was full of couples. Men and women on dates, men and men on dates, women and women on dates. Since when did you have to be a part of a couple to go to the theater? My strong independence started to drain and I felt like I stuck out like a sore thumb - luckily that was when the curtain was falling - so I was saved.

I have always felt that most shows could stop at intermission and the audience would not have missed out on anything. This show is no exception.

The first act was perfection. The basic premise of the show is that an idealistic young graduate (Princeton) moves to Avenue Q, a run down neighborhood in New York City, and hilarity and love ensue. Gary Coleman (played by a woman with long hair - you have to suspend disbelief for this show as the people operating the puppets are standing there, too) is the superintendent of the building so that is good for some amusement.

The first act goes through songs like "everyone's a little bit racist." The fantastic song "the internet (is for porn)" where the young teacher sings what she would teach the children about the internet and the grumpy monster chimes in that it is for porn much to her dismay. It then moves to "I'm not wearing underwear today" - a song that is very close to my heart for reasons that those of you who know me well will understand.

At this point the young Princeton and Kate Monster hook up. And by hook up, I mean hot puppet on puppet sex set to the song "Be as Loud as you want when you make love" (or something like that). And this is not rated G puppet sex. This is full on frontal puppet nudity (no they aren't anatomically correct). The puppets depicted missionary, girl on top, sixty-nine and blow jobs. Hilarious. Hard to get over that one, quite honestly. I'll never look at puppets the same again.

The next song is "girlfriend in Canada" where the closeted gay puppet sings about his girlfriend in canada (another song that tickled me for reasons people who know me will get). He ends the song saying he can't wait to "lick her pussy again." !!!shock and horror!!! Great song.

They end the first act with a sappy love song as the boy meets girl, they fall in love, boy gets confused and has to go search for his purpose leaving the girl stranded and singing about broken hearts and wasting time.

At this point you know how the second half is going to go. Boy will make grand romantic gesture (raise money to build her monster school) and win back girl, closeted puppet will come out of the closet and all is well that ends well. Seriously, you might as well leave at intermission if you are the kind of person who doesn't need closure. Not to say there weren't good points - "For Now" the final song was great, though a little depressing at first.

Me, I had nothing better to do with my time, so I stayed. I give the first act an A+; I give the second act a B-. But that is not a knock on this show, I always think the second act is slow.

The audience gave the cast a standing ovation. I am more choosy with my standing ovations - I did not stand. Yes, I'm a bitch.

So, all in all, this was a good outing. I got to feel all Mary Tyler Moore single girl about town, saw a great first act of theater, and got to stretch my legs on the walk to and from my car (and I didn't get mugged).

If you get the chance to see Avenue Q - definitely go. Just leave at intermission.