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The 'Q' factor
Thursday, Jun 10, 2004 - 09:59:53 pm CDT
jeff korbelik column
If anybody should appreciate "Avenue Q's" surprise victory at Sunday's Tony awards, it should be fans of the animated show "The Simpsons."
After all, many critics not only consider "The Simpsons" the best comedy on television but the best show as well.
Period.
Yet Matt Groening's clever cartoon is relegated to the Emmy awards' animated category and not allowed to compete against sitcom stalwarts "Frasier," "Friends" and "Everybody Loves Raymond."
Well, that's not the case with the Tonys. There isn't a category for "Best Musical With Puppets."
Nope, "Avenue Q," the witty musical from Robert Lopez, Jeff Marx and Jeff Whitty, instead had to go up against the heavy hitters: "The Boy From Oz," "Caroline, or Change" and fan favorite "Wicked" considered by many as the Smarty Jones of musical theater.
And just like the Belmont Stakes, when Birdstone came out of nowhere the day before to upset the unbeatable Smarty Jones, "Avenue Q" did the unthinkable.
And not only once, but three times.
"Avenue Q" scored Tonys for best book, best original score and, of course, the biggie best musical.
Somewhere Big Bird and Kermit the Frog are slapping high fives.
"Wicked," meanwhile, the lavish prequel to "The Wizard of Oz," garnered statues for best scenic and costume design and another for Idina Menzel for best performance by a leading actress in a musical.
Now, time will tell if "Avenue Q's" victory is deserved, or if it goes down as another 1958.
It was the year that the Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents' snappy love tale "West Side Story" was nearly shut out.
Meredith Willson's sappy, but traditional, "The Music Man," won best musical, along with seven other Tonys at the '58 ceremony.
Meanwhile, "West Side Story" went home with just two trophies: best choreography (Jerome Robbins) and best scenic design (Oliver Smith).
Today, there's no doubting that "West Side Story" ranks as one of the best musicals of our generation.
As for "Avenue Q," I tend to believe the musical can - and will -hold up, especially after seeing it in the Big Apple just two nights before the Tony ceremony.
Why?
Because the musical pushes the envelope and challenges the norm the same way the rock musical "Rent" did in 1996.
I admit I was wary.
If I'm spending $90-plus on a Broadway ticket, I want to be sure it's worth it.
And then there was the whole puppet thing. I was worried this was just going to be a corny, adult version of "Sesame Street Live."
But my friend, who works in Manhattan, assured us I was traveling with a co-worker and his wife "Avenue Q" was well worth our money and time.
She called it "laugh-out-loud funny" and had no problem shelling out the cash to see it a second time.
Plus, seeing "Wicked" was not a viable option. Like Mel Brooks' "The Producers" in 2001, "Wicked" tickets were hard to come by and reservations were needed not days, but months, in advance.
I'm glad we trusted her. The musical was better than our friend had advertised.
For those unfamiliar with "Avenue Q," the show basically is an R-rated version of "Sesame Street."
The story centers on Princeton, a young puppet searching for his "purpose" now that he is out of college and in the real world.
He moves into an apartment building on "Avenue Q," where several others also are trying to find their "purposes" in the world, including Kate Monster, the eventual love interest for Princeton.
This isn't television, where the puppeteers can hide behind set pieces. Instead, they are right on stage with the puppets. It takes a little while to focus on the puppets and not the people.
But once that happens, the musical becomes an amusement park ride of fun.
Yes, the musical was risque, and, yes, there was puppet sex.
As far as being politically correct, well, that flies out the window with the song "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist" in the first act.
Other eyebrow-raising, but entertaining, numbers include "It Sucks to Be Me," "If You Were Gay," "The Internet Is for Porn" and "You Can Be as Loud as the Hell You Want (When You're Makin' Love)."
These are the reasons "Avenue Q" upstaged and upset "Wicked" at the Tonys.
Like "West Side Story" in 1958 and "Rent" in 1996," "Avenue Q" was nontraditional.
Of course, this could play against it when it comes time to tour the show and the rights become available to regional and community theaters.
The content may turn off a lot of people, and "Avenue Q" could be a tough sell in typically conservative areas of the country, such as Nebraska.
Buy, hey, "The Simpsons" have been making fun of everyone and everything since 1989, and in the process developed this incredible loyal fan base.
As I said before, only time will tell if "Avenue Q" will be considered a great musical.
I like its chances.
But until then, the show can enjoy its current status as "the best musical."
Period.
Reach Jeff Korbelik at 473-7213 or jkorbelik@;journalstar.com.
If you go
What: "Avenue Q"
Where: Golden Theatre, 252 W. 45th St., New York City
Performance schedule: 8 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday
Summer schedule (June 28-Sept. 5): 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday
Tickets: Visit www.avenueq.com or call (800) 223-7565
Note: Musical is for mature audiences
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