Avenue Q Review

Our theater group went to see Avenue Q at the Marcus Center on Sunday evening. We had a wonderful time, although it was a bittersweet evening as it was our last night together as a complete group. Kelly and Chad Neumann are getting ready to live and work in Germany for two years. This might be the end of our little group as it is currently composed. Kelly and Chad are dear friends and will be missed so much. However, as the finale of Avenue Q states, Kelly and Chad are leaving “only for now.”

I am going to keep my comments on the show relatively brief as fellow official Cats Scale reviewer Matt Frankovis has done a brilliant job reviewing the show below. (Really Matt – I think you have missed your calling and theatrical review could be in your future.) Simply stated, Avenue Q Rocks!!! A modern show with wonderful humor and catchy songs. As a career counselor, I loved the examination of life just beyond the walls of college and the struggles experienced by liberal arts majors in the labor market. As a male theater enthusiast, I loved the irreverent examination of relationships, culture, and sexuality. The 1980s references (mix tapes, Gary Coleman’s struggles, etc.) were also classic. A very enjoyable performance all around.

My Cats Scale Rating? 1 Cat! (Recall that the Cats scale is based on a comparison of the musical Cats, which I despise. 0 Cats equals theatrical perfection. 5 Cats equals the worst musical I have seen – Cats.)

Avenue Q Review by Matt Frankovis


Cats Scale Rating – 1/2 Cat


Avenue Q is the musical that not only satirizes Sesame Street, but in a fashion that mocks all other musicals. It plays less like a cultured, debonair downtown event, and more like a creative HBO comedy special (or late-night Wausau TV, if you will). I actually found myself leaning forward in my seat, my ears straining to catch every word. It wasn’t the type of show that seeks deeper meaning and will leave a lasting impact on your soul, and you definitely wouldn’t buy the soundtrack (unless you also have a copy of Jerky Boys in your collection). Rather, Avenue Q makes light of semi-harmless life subjects through the use of hand puppets with songs like IF YOU WERE GAY, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A B.A. IN ENGLISH, EVERYONE’S A LITTLE BIT RACIST, and the memorable THE INTERNET IS FOR PORN. The internet is also for eckspot.blogspot.com, but it’s hard to fit that into a song.

Gary Coleman references were laced throughout, and one of the greatest products of the 80’s/early 90’s (the mixtape) made an appearance, as did Jason’s binoculars when Lucy the Slut made her debut (she’s just a puppet!).

However, my favorite characters were the Bad Idea Bears, who leveraged their fuzzy cuteness to compel Princeton and Kate Monster to engage in drinking games.

("You should do something for yourself for a change--buy some beer!" "Buy a case! It's cheaper that way in the long run!" "Yay-yeee!")

("Quick, take her home!" "She's wasted!" "Yay-yeee!")

While it’s all great fun in act one, the reason Avenue Q can’t pull out the coveted “Zero Cats” rating is the ironic attempt at becoming a musical and having some closure in act two. Why mess up great and clever humor by trying to complete a plot? Sure, there were a few more good songs (I WISH I COULD GO BACK TO COLLEGE, THE MONEY SONG --- where an audience member donated a Lion King ticket stub for the cause), but I was much more content and amused when the drive for Princeton to find his purpose in life took a back seat to comedy, as it did in the first act. As Chad noted, we probably could’ve left during intermission and been equally as entertained. Unfortunately, Avenue Q made an attempt to become a musical.

While the set and score took a back seat to the Lion King, the creativity in the characters and dialogue are what set Avenue Q apart. I would compare it to My Fair Lady, but honestly, I didn’t see most of it. Ultimately, Avenue Q ranks head and shoulders above the rest of this season’s class of shows.

Avenue Q Review by Chad Neumann

Cats Scale Rating – 1 Cat

In summary, Avenue Q is an amusing and comical musical which kindly pokes fun of a typical day for anyone stuck in a normal routine trying to figure out their "purpose" in life. The first half engages the audience only to leave them a bit disappointment by the declining climax of the second half. Each character brings a unique sense of humor to the show which
will leave one laughing out loud. I do agree with Mr. Matt F. regarding the "Bad Idea Bears" as being one of my favorite characters as their "purpose" to the musical is nothing short of being hilarious. It is certainly a musical worth seeing - assuming you are not looking for the meaning to life or any deep message, but rather an entertaining and laughter filled 2 1/2 hours.