You live on Avenue Q

Today was a very productive day. The weather was beautiful and I did so much. I started out by taking a trip to Concordia in River Forest to get my Financial Aid in line for the summer; I overshot my book voucher for books and ended up going on a shopping spree in the bookstore with my voucher since it was already pulled for books. After, I drug my friend Jeff out to Oak Park to walk around the Frank Lloyd Wright home and studio and to look around ten other Wright homes on Forest Avenue. I never get tired of seeing Oak Park. The scenery is gorgeous and being able to see so much Wright is fascinating. I would love to eventually live there, especially since it is right off the Green Line; it is nice to see that CTA extends so far out. After picture taking, I had a grueling trip back North. There is no convenient way to get from Oak Park back to Rogers Park. The freeway only does so much good before you have to get off and end up taking a hundred different major roads to get there...even though they are major, they have thousands of stop signs and stop lights.Tonight was the highlight of my week, month, year/etc. I had the opportunity to see Avenue Q with friends that were generous benefactors. Our seating was really close to the stage. For those of you who do not know about the show, it is about breaking past what is routine and learning to accept the things in life that are unavoidable. It is about overcoming barriers and loving everyone. Half of the cast is puppets and the other half is people. The people do control the puppets right on stage and use a lot of facial expressions as they are singing. They are just as much of it as the puppets in which they control.

Basically, Avenue Q is a dumpy part of New York City. It focuses on Brian and Christmas Eve (a married couple), Rod and Nicky (the closeted gay and his roommate), Princeton and Kate Monster (lovers learning their way), Trekkie Monster (a pervert), the Bad Idea Bears (always show up to help everyone make bad decisions), Lucy the Slut and Gary Coleman (the superintendent of Avenue Q...I am Gary Coleman from TV's Different Strokes, I made a lot of money that got stolen by my folks). The plot deals with all of these people, especially Princeton, trying to figure out who they are and what they are supposed to be doing. Princeton is set on his purpose the entire time. In fact, every few minutes, two TV screens descend from the ceiling and show purpose on it...it shows his ideas and what he wants to do. The screens also express their emotions...I cannot even describe it at all. I guess you have to see it...to make it easy to understand, what is shown on the TV screen will make you laugh...a lot. Instead of having the cast act during the opening song, the screens descended and showed a cartoon of what they were singing about. It was riot.

So, back on track here, there were a couple of things that really stuck out to me in this musical. The first is that the actors/singers sounded exactly like the CD recording of the Tony Award winning cast. I was so impressed. You always fear what it might sound like if there is a certain expectation. Seeing as I know the words to every song in Avenue Q, I was worried I might be disappointed. I was not. Then, there were the things they did and said. There was a woman, a kindergarten teacher in it whose name was Ms. Thistletwat...she was old and bitchy. Kate is a kindergarten assistant for her and ends up sleeping in one day. Thistletwat says that she is no good and is a disgrace like all other monsters. Kate quits, but the woman says she is fired. Kate says she cannot be fired if she quits and tells her to shut it "old bitch." The woman tells her she is going to Hell; Kate simply responds "I'll see you there." So, Kate is out of a job. Well here is the best part that is parallel to me. She says I got cut from teaching and I work at Barnes and Noble. I make less money than I have ever made...but I am happy. I thought I was going to choke when I heard that. She and I are doing the same thing. HAHA.

So, during the madness of the musical...Christmas Eve (a Chinese who mixes her L's and R's) and Brian get married. Everyone wore yamacas and they strung up Chinese lanterns all over the stage. Gary Coleman married them and said "By the powers invested in me as a former child star..." Christmas Eve was wearing a dress that was made of a lot of what looked like tool on the bottom and then this red get-up as a top. The bottom lit up with Christmas lights and the back of the top opened up and displayed a little light show. It was hilarious. Once again...cannot describe.

After the wedding, Christmas tells Kate she will throw her the bouquet so she could show Princeton (Kate and Princeton are dating now). Princeton overhears and the TV screens pop down again. The word Purpose pops up. All of a sudden the U and the R switch spots. PRUPOSE. Then, the middle of the. U moves up to form an O. It says PROPOSE. Then, the lights flicker on stage and smoke comes out. Princeton is screaming...A large Princeton (one of the human cast members comes out with a Princeton head on...it was the guy playing Brian since his tuxedo was still on) comes out on stage. All of a sudden, a GIANT puppet hand comes down over the set...then a gigantic Kate Monster head with a vail on rises above the buildings on stage. She lets out a MWUHAHAHAHA laugh and is holding a bouquet the size of my bedroom. It was funny how it was depicted. I know this blog makes no sense to anyone reading it, it will help me with my memories, though.

The last thing I will comment on is the finale. The song is titled For Now. For Now is something I should listen to everyday. These are the lyrics:

PRINCETON: Why does everything have to be so hard? GARY COLEMAN: Maybe you'll never find your purpose. CHRISTMAS EVE: Lots of people don't. PRINCETON: But then- I don't know why I'm even alive! KATE MONSTER: Well, who does, really? Everyone's a little bit unsatisfied. BRIAN: Everyone goes 'round a little empty inside. GARY COLEMAN: Take a breath, Look around, BRIAN: Swallow your pride, KATE MONSTER: FOr now... BRIAN, KATE, GARY, CHRISTMAS EVE: For now... NICKY: Nothing lasts, ROD: Life goes on, NICKY: Full of surprises. ROD: You'll be faced with problems of all shapes and sizes. CHRISTMAS EVE: You're going to have to make a few compromises... For now... TREKKIE MONSTER: For now... ALL: But only for now! (For now) Only for now! (For now) Only for now! (For now) Only for now! LUCY: For now we're healthy. BRIAN: For now we're employed. BAD IDEA BEARS: For now we're happy... KATE MONSTER: If not overjoyed. PRINCETON: And we'll accept the things we cannot avoid, for now... GARY COLEMAN: For now... TREKKIE MONSTER: For now... KATE MONSTER: For now... ALL: But only for now! (For now) Only for now! (For now) Only for now! (For now) Only for now! Only for now! (For now there's life!) Only for now! (For now there's love!) Only for now! (For now there's work!) For now there's happiness! But only for now! (For now discomfort!) Only for now! (For now there's friendship!) Only for now (For now!) Only for now! Only for now! (Sex!) Is only for now! (Your hair!) Is only for now! (George Bush!) Is only for now! Don't stress, Relax, Let life roll off your backs Except for death and paying taxes, Everything in life is only for now! NICKY: Each time you smile... ALL: ...Only for now KATE MONSTER: It'll only last a while. ALL: ...Only for now PRINCETON: Life may be scary... ALL: ...Only for now But it's only temporary Ba-dum ba-dum Ba-dum ba-dum Ba dum ba-dum Ba-da da da da ba-da da-da da da-da Ba-dum ba-da, ba-dum ba-da ohhhh- PRINCETON: Everything in life is only for now

The only part that changes of the song is the fact that instead of saying "George Bush" they scream Glenn Beck...which is so appropriate...ahahah. The song is a great way to realize that everything will work out. The cast was so phenomenal at performing and really made you feel good by the end. For Now has made me realize I will be out of all of this soon. Soon, I will be working at a school...it's only temporary. :) This is a recording of the London Cast of Avenue Q performing For Now (just click on the link). I think you will enjoy it.

So, that is my rant about Avenue Q. Tomorrow I will be heading down to Chinatown early in the morning. Enjoy the evening! :)