EP and I went to see Avenue Q a couple of weeks ago. This show won the 2004 Tony Award and it's an adult-oriented (vs. kiddie) puppet show with real people as sidekicks. This show has the puppeteers on stage along with the puppets so originally I was afraid it's going to be really weird. It turned out to be great fun. A liberal-minded sarcastic musical. A couple of numbers I particularly liked:
Everyone is a little bit racist
Schadenfreude
As good as the show was however, the most memorable moment of the show happened actually off-stage, centering on the co-ed restroom.
Apparently the theatre where the show has been staged has a smallish ladies' room which has looooog queues outside it at the key moments (before the show and during the break). So one usher, positioned at a strategic spot outside the ladies' room, makes this announcement every so often to alleviate the situation:
"ladies if you are 21 or older please note that our men's room is co-ed. please feel free to use it."
I'm not kidding you. (And what's the deal with 21??) I saw with my own eyes that a few ladies threw themselves into the men's loo just as soon as the usher finished one broadcast.
EP told me afterwards that he actually got to exhibit "ladies first" behavior upon his entering the men's room. Ladies bascially would dominate the stalls while the gentlemen performed out and standing. And audio effects galore in spite of stall-doors. And if the ladies so desire, they will be able to review gentlemen's apparatus as well as live performances with no hindrance.
Just in case you wonder, I did not take advantage of this unprecedented (to me at least) co-ed restroom situation. It's like, hmmm very tempting but I will pass. : )
(p.s. just discovered that this show is supposed to be interpreted as a parody to Sesame street. Didn't get it - never watched Sesame street. Oh well.)
