Avenue Q (One Night and Matinee) - Sondheim Theatre

[normasturban]

The show was fantastic but the sound mixing was diabolical.

[djdan14]

Echo everything said here, felt so good to be back down the avenue, even a more French avenue this time

[newda]

Absolutely loved it. That original cast really were spectacular.

[richey]

That was amazing. The few sound issues didn't distract too much as all the cast were brilliant.
Got quite emotional at parts. The atmosphere was great, there were some pretty dedicated fans out there.
They went for a pretty predictable update which I'd expected in "For Now" but it got a massive cheer.

[properjob]

Such a lovely afternoon with everyone enjoying a show they loved. Sound was mostly fine where I was in the stalls. Few problems at the start and the odd missed mic cue but to be expected for a concert version with limited rehearsals and actors playing multiple overlapping characters with loads of puppet swapping.
Did take a while for me to get out to the street so don't hang about if you have a tight transport connection.

[alece10]

Absolutely loved this and brought back so many memories.
As mentioned sound was hit and miss at times but, to be honest, acceptable and didn't spoil it.
Cast were having a ball. Loved the adlibs.
The puppets voices were exactly as I remembered them.
Simon,Jon and Julie were an absolute joy to watch.
Great audience full of Ave Q fans. I even saw a man with a puppet!
As we were walking out I heard one of the FOH announce that there was very limited merchandise left. Hopefully they have kept some back for the evening I would say head straight to the merch if you want anything.

[jj9692]

Just in the theatre for the evening performance. Was probably around 10th in queue for merch. They only had 4 or 5 small T-shirts left.
So unfortunately a few dissapointed people in theatre already.

[doctorshaw]

A fantastic show at today's matinee!

The audience atmosphere was electric - I was probably the man with the puppet that Alec10 mentioned lol. I had to bring my Trekkie Monster to see the show! Believe it or not it was the first time my wife and I have seen it but after watching our favourite songs on YouTube for months it was amazing to finally see the show performed.

Simon Lipkin in particular was fantastic, I'd love to see his Fagin now. The whole cast was on top form and as others have said, the ad libs really made this a special event. They looked to be having as much fun as the rest of us.

Using the Les Mis buildings worked very well, and made it feel less of a concert version and more of a staged production.

I hope everyone going to the evening show has just as good an experience.

[Paulw]

Absolutely nothing left apart from programmes when I just went in! I wish they would stop doing this at these concerts and leave some things available for the evening.

[normasturban]

For once sound cues weren’t the problem, it was the sound of the band. It completely overpowered everyone without a puppet in particular.

[alece10]

Nov 10, 2024 19:00:32 GMT doctorshaw said:

A fantastic show at today's matinee!

The audience atmosphere was electric - I was probably the man with the puppet that Alec10 mentioned lol. I had to bring my Trekkie Monster to see the show! Believe it or not it was the first time my wife and I have seen it but after watching our favourite songs on YouTube for months it was amazing to finally see the show performed.

Simon Lipkin in particular was fantastic, I'd love to see his Fagin now. The whole cast was on top form and as others have said, the ad libs really made this a special event. They looked to be having as much fun as the rest of us.

Using the Les Mis buildings worked very well, and made it feel less of a concert version and more of a staged production.

I hope everyone going to the evening show has just as good an experience.

Well that made my afternoon seeing you with the puppet. I hope he enjoyed it too.

[fiyero]

Nov 10, 2024 19:34:22 GMT normasturban said:

For once sound cues weren’t the problem, it was the sound of the band. It completely overpowered everyone without a puppet in particular.

Sound was better than I expected having read about some concerts but there were issues throughout. None spoiled my afternoon one bit (even though Crosscountry and West Midland Trains tried to). 

I think I only saw the complete original cast once but it started a love for Simon Lipkin that at times borders on obsessive (it’s normal to go to Chichester 3 times for his Fagin right?) it has been great seeing Giles career skyrocket too! 

I loved this concert! Great use of the sides of the Les Mis set and the line flubs and adlibs really added to the event. At times there was feedback or overpowering sound and a couple of missed mic cues but it’s a one day only deal! Compromises have to be made. 

The £10 brochure has a cool photo page. Shame no updated photos of Ann or Giles but understandable. I didn’t go for a T-shirt. Shame that they run out at events like this (though tricky saying hold half for the evening upsetting matinee goers who are too late so a tricky balance). 

I loved this so much. (I cut short a trip to Alton Towers to go, such is my love for it. Stafford to Eastleigh via London by train has been interesting!)

[Joseph Buquet]

Really enjoyed this. The cast were obviously excited to be there. It was just as good as I remembered all those years ago, now with a few ad libs about their age, Les Mis, etc.

Generally went smoothly, but the sound wasn’t always great. Sometimes the singing was drowned out by the band. There was also a tinny sound at times - especially Ann Harada. But other than that, it was great to see it again!

[starry1]

Really enjoyed the matinee. Thought Simon was particularly fabulous. There were a few points where people were drowned out by the band, but didn’t really matter.

[Paulw]

Interval thoughts, this is so good joke updates are brilliant and the extra bit Simon puts in is especially good!

With no t shirts left and only brochures available and a big pile of signed ones they are not going to sell any signed ones off at the end if they are unclaimed, do these producers not want any extra revenue? I would buy signed but not unsigned so I guess I will keep my money in my pocket! Very disappointing that no merch or anything left won’t be available for the evening audience.

[tcb]

Was there at the matinee, sat front row of grand circle. I thought there was a few sound issues with the band overpowering the singing particularly the non puppet characters but it didn’t detract from it too much, just so pleased to see it again. Lots of love for the show from the audience.

I do wish you could preorder programs at these one off concerts. Luckily I managed to get one as we saw the matinee today but when we’ve done the second show (like Bare for example) all the programs had already sold out, I understand it must be hard to predict how many to print but it’s so annoying!

[partytentdown]

Enjoyed the concert and the fun new additions! A great crowd.
Cameron Mackintosh was in.
The programme is a bit of a rip off - it only contains the biogs of the cast/producers and a few old pics - and a load of typos. For a tenner I'd have expected at least some kind of introduction about the show or an interview or something. Pleased to have a signed one but whoever decided to give them black pens to sign a black programme cover wasn't the smartest.

Could this be done again in the West End in this day and age? To be discussed!

[jaqs]

Thoroughly enjoyed myself this evening. I’d forgotten how much I loved this show. It was bloody marvellous

[fiyero]

Nov 10, 2024 20:53:20 GMT Paulw said:

Interval thoughts, this is so good joke updates are brilliant and the extra bit Simon puts in is especially good!

With no t shirts left and only brochures available and a big pile of signed ones they are not going to sell any signed ones off at the end if they are unclaimed, do these producers not want any extra revenue? I would buy signed but not unsigned so I guess I will keep my money in my pocket! Very disappointing that no merch or anything left won’t be available for the evening audience.

What was the deal with signed programmes?

[partytentdown]

Some premium seats had a signed programme included

[doctorshaw]

Can we have a scoring poll for this one please admin?

[partytentdown]

Also why has Rod's hair changed from ginger to brown?!

[greatauntedna]

I saw the evening performance, it was my first time seeing it. The humour was broader than I’d expected, I thought it’d be more in the vein of The Book of Mormon. The cast were great.

[argon]

What a superb evening being reacquainted with such a great show, five stars from me.
The only thing I missed being Trekkie's password joke. What was the password can anyone share.

[fiyero]

Nov 10, 2024 23:02:28 GMT argon said:

What a superb evening being reacquainted with such a great show, five stars from me.
The only thing I missed being Trekkie's password joke. What was the password can anyone share.

If the same as matinee Diddy Didn't Do it Did He ... I should change that