Touring companies of Broadway shows pass through D.C. fairly quickly, with two week runs being typical. New York is close enough that it's often easier to just see something that I want to up there, rather than waiting for it to come here and fitting it into my schedule. So I had never actually been to the National Theatre before today, other than to the box office to get these tickets.
The show on tour is Avenue Q, which I've wanted to see for a while. I wasn't sure whether I'd like it since I'm a good 15-20 years older than its target demographic and since I tend to like more traditional musicals. But like it I did - a lot, in fact. It had all the elements of a good musical, including a humorous book, lively music and clever staging.
The Playbill, oddly, doesn't have a song list, so I have to rely on memory, but a couple of pieces which stand out for me are the opening number ("It Sucks to Be Me") and a cheery anthem about Schadenfreude. Where I really lost it, though, was with "The Internet is For Porn." My laughing muscles are aching with strain. And just the whole idea of the Bad Idea Bears makes me crack up.
I could quibble about some predictable plot elements, but I think I actually want musicals to have predictable plot elements. It's not like anybody is surprised when Sky Masterson marries Sarah Brown, either.
I should note that there were a few people who brought inappropriately young children to the theatre. They got what they deserved since the advertising was pretty explicit about adult content and nobody should have been expecting a sweet innocent puppet shows.
If only we got more touring companies of shows I haven't seen at times when I can actually go.
Copyright 2007 Miriam H. Nadel