Avenue Q is what happened to Sesame Street when we left it, grew up and went to college

” You live on Avenue Q!
Your friends do too.
You are twenty-two
And you live on Avenue Q!”

If you don’t know what Avenue Q is and where the hell it is, I suggest you don’t waste time reading this post because I’m too excited about the play to actually give an introduction. All that you need to know about Avenue Q is stated in my title. Avenue Q is what happened to Sesame Street when we left it, grew up and went to college. Monsters learned how to search porn through the internet, get drunk in a bar, go “as loud as the hell they want when they’re making love” and explore homosexuality. Add a little bit of racism and you’ve got yourselves Avenue Q.

I always thought Avenue Q was going to forever be just a song in my playlist. To watch it live and in such good seats is divine. I got to watch it care of a very good friend: Ascognati. He has a little blog post raving about Avenue Q too so be sure to check it out. Oh, that was Avenue Q’s Final Run by the way so it’s awesome that I got to watch it for the first (and last) time. Ever since I heard about Avenue Q which was about 2 years ago, it has always been a dream for me to watch it. A dream come true it really is!

Up until now I can’t take Schadenfreude out of my head. It’s now stuck and yes, everytime I see a lady miss the elevator, at the back of my head (right before I snicker) I think of Schadenfreude.

A few points I have to highlight:

Felix Rivera as Princeton/Rod
Excuse me for being a fangirl, but DAMN HE WAS GOOD! There were moments when I was confused whether I was laughing because of the puppet or because of him. Felix as Rod was just plain adorable. The way his knees jerk up and when he giggles, oh daaaamn… All the raw emotions that should be going through the puppet’s eyes but couldn’t (well because it’s a puppet doi) overflow in his. This guy will be going far. And I really think if I get news of him performing somewhere, I’d watch it no matter what it is. Fan girl in the making here, yes.

Trekkie and Nicky
I thought Trekkie wouldn’t be able to make me laugh anymore since I listen to Avenue Q almost everyday and nothing would surprise me anymore but really, there is something magical and different about seeing it with your own eyes. The fact that Trekkie’s fingers move more than the rest of the cast, it really made him look a bit more perverted. Joel Trinidad is awesome as always and playing that many characters (he was also one of the Bad Idea bears) showcases his versatility and expertise in his craft.

Fantasies Come True
This is one of my favorite scenes. Call me a sap for choosing a sentimental song but I loved how this was played. Doesn’t matter that it’s Kate and Princeton’s after sex talk, I absolutely adored the feelings gushing through the stage in this scene. Rod and Kate singing, both realizing that their dreams are finally coming true (but in two different ways) it gives me this warm and fuzzy feeling inside. I also love how the light dims out as Felix/Rod wistfully looks at Nicky when he realizes that he really was just dreaming. It almost made me cry. Really. No shit.

I could go on and on raving about Avenue Q and I’d bore you to death (if you haven’t watched it) but if you do, then I bet you share my sentiments. There is no person I know who watched Avenue Q and wasn’t satisfied if not totally raving about it. Avenue Q, like I said, pokes fun at my life, your life and your friend’s life. If you see an opportunity to watch it, then by all means please. You’d be doing yourself a big favor. After all, wouldn’t you want to take a look at what happened to Sesame Street while you’re so busy trying to get a BA in English?

“Avenue Q is what has become of Sesame Street while we’re away getting a college degree.
Coming back, we find a grungier, less innocent neighborhood.”
- Socky Pitargue, Tennis and Conversations