The Drowsy Chaperone and Avenue Q

After waiting for ages for these two shows to become availabe on TDF (my discount theater membership) they did and I saw them --one last week, one tonight. I had heard about The Drowsy Chaperone from my friend John, who had seen it in previews (his now ex-girlfriend is one of the dressers) and raved about it. By the time, I realized I wanted to see it, it was too late to get cheap tix and I do NOT go to Broadway except at a discount. Prices are ridiculously high: up to $100+ now for the best seats. Anyway, Rick Bowes and I saw it last week and enjoyed it--it's about a lonely guy who is into old Broadway shows and listens to their cast albums on his record player. As he does, the stage is transformed into the scene of the actual play. It's a lovely idea and quite a lot of fun. Not deep, but sweet.

Avenue Q won the Tony Award for best musical in 2004 and beat out Wicked (IIRC)in an upset. Another sweet play, with muppets. Some nice musical numbers, some wonderful emoting by the actors holding the puppets and the actors not playing muppets. Again, not deep but fun. I had my doubts initially but the play and characters grew on me as the show went on and I discovered myself suspending my disbelief regarding the human puppet-handlers being "behind" the scenes. Not sure if this is clear.

Almost finished with the copy edit of The Del Rey Book of Science Fiction and Fantasy. I plan to hand it back to my editor Chris Schluep, Monday.