life sucks...

not just in avenue q but everywhere else.

i know i've been quite down in the dumps lately for all those unwelcomed moments of brooding and thinking about what's in store for me or what's life supposed to be. then comes this opportunity to watch something if only to while away the time, be updated with what's new and what's in. but surprises of all surprises you hear its opening lyrics and get caught, be immersed and feel as if the cast is talking directly to you.

yes, i feel that there's not just a coincidence but some cosmic force out there that led me into the theater to watch this show.

Avenue Q is a Tony Award-winning musical that is largely inspired by Sesame Street with characters composed mostly of puppets.

it opens up with a fresh grad, Princeton who is in search of an apartment in New York. in Avenue Q he meets his would be neighbors comprised mostly of odd characters. they would be heard singing It Sucks to be Me which is more like an assortment of complaints about their lives.

and don't we hear that all the time? not just here as we blog or as we talk to friends around us? we tend to mope and tell people that hey, my life sucks and your life is way better than mine haha!

their easy banter tells us that "i can relate to that too!"

what more when Princeton sings his piece about finding his Purpose in life.

PURPOSE,
IT'S THAT LITTLE FLAME
THAT LIGHTS A FIRE
UNDER YOUR ASS.
PURPOSE,
IT KEEPS YOU GOING STRONG
LIKE A CAR WITH A FULL
TANK OF GAS.
EVERYONE ELSE HAS
A PURPOSE
SO WHAT'S MINE?

the very same questions i've been asking about my life, argh!

i sit in anticipation not just in watching how the story of the characters unfold but in the hope of getting the answers to Princeton's questions.

but of course a love story has to be imparted making it more heartwarming. Princeton happens to fall for the kindergarten teacher named Kate Monster who he goes out on a date with for the first time, they get drunk and wasted with long island iced teas and the next thing you know is find two puppets naked and humping and thrashing and moaning as the rest of the cast around them sings:

You can be as loud as
The hell you want
When you're making love!

You hear what?
Hell no, I won't tell them to quiet down!

Kate Monster:
Are we being too loud?

Princeton:
Yeah are we bothering someone?

Gary Coleman:
Oh, no, not at all, kids!
You keep doing what you're doing.

Bad Idea Bears:
Yeah! Louder!

holy sweet bejesus indeed haha!

another set of characters include Nicky and his rumored closet gay roomate, Rod (parodies of the Ernie and Bert tandem). while attending their neighbors' Brian and Christmas Eve's wedding, guests confront them of the issue which Rod vehemently denies to which Nicky assures him that "it's okay to be gay" but Rod insists he is not and instead makes up the story about his supposedly girlfriend in Canada. in contempt, Rod throws Nicky off the apartment leaving him out cold on the streets.

Princeton on the other hand gets scared of commitment and breaks up with Kate even if she manages to grab the wedding bouquet from some hapless girl.

what ensues are characters telling each other how more miserable their lives have become especially with Princeton telling people how he is still loveless and purposeless. this is when the word Schadenfreude is introduced. this greatly describes how we also find pleasure in other people's misfortunes. that no matter how lowly we think of ourselves we are also giving service to other people by showing them that they are still blessed and more fortunate compared to us. sweet!

with such inspiration Princeton decides to do good for others most particularly to Kate who is dreaming of putting up her own school for monsters. he manages to get enough funds largely from the donation of Trekkie Monster who is also a porn addict.

such act of goodness is magnified as good vibes emanate from most people in the cast. Princeton and Kate get backs together and vows to just take each day at a time. everyone sings:

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...

Don't stress,
Relax,
Let life roll off your backs
Except for death and paying taxes,
Everything in life is only for now!

the show ends with Princeton not really finding his purpose in life but the rest assures him not to dwell on it too much for his life may not be that good right now but everything is but temporary and is only For Now.

and i sure got the message.

i walked out of the theater feeling lighter and almost laughing at myself. i look back at those moments when i moped and realized how fantastic life just tells you to turn around, cheer up and just live life with more humor and laughter.

life indeed sucks but then it's still way fun too! =)

(oh yeah, kudos to the cast composed of Felix Rivera, Rachel Alejandro, Joel Trinidad, Frenchie Dy, and Aiza Seguerra and to Atlantis Productions for bringing this one to us. *okay*)