have i missed this announcement somewhere - i was on the tube today and it said on the posters until 26th september, but i have just had a look at the del mack website and they are taking bookings up to saturday 2nd january. glad it is doing well enough at its new home to deserve being extended

Saw it this afternoon and after really looking forward to it, I think they should have closed it. It felt really lackluster and tired and the cast to me felt a little bored. Maybe my mistake was listening to the CD and creating my own image of what it should be like before seeing it, but there was no one standing up at the end in the stalls. A shame - it could have been great! Maybe the show has run its course.

I haven't seen it since the transfer, but I had the opposite experience - loved the show on stage, but was totally underwhelmed by most of the performances on the Broadway cast album.

I'm not surprised if some of the cast look a bit bored - though not defending them at all, they shouldn't - many of them have been there nearly two years now.

I saw it at the end of June and can't disagree more with you - it was fantastic. Daniel and Julie seemed to have got a really good rapport and I also enjoyed seeing Tom Parsons doing Trekkie/Nicky.

Shame you didn't enjoy it. I'm seeing it again tomorrow (although no Daniel as he is in concert with JB) - so will see whether it's as lacklustre as you say.

Yaaaayyyy!!!! I couldnt get into the city untill after the old booking period and was dying to see this show.

I agree about the show having run its course, but not about the cast looking 'bored'. I went last week and had so much fun, they work really well as a group and I'll miss them when they finally do move on!! I love the show still, but after Julie's last performance on October 3rd, I don't think i'll be going back.

Well, depends who they cast in her role! lol. It won't be Rachel, they're holding auditions at the moment...

Julie was off and we had a dire understudy for Brian. I just felt that they missed a lot of comedy moments because they weren't putting in enough energy or perhaps were rushing through things. They also need to turn the sound up - not that I'm deaf (I could hear it!) but it makes such a difference when the sound surrounds you.

Aww!! Was it Simon Gorton or Tom Parsons? I love them both!! Though only ever seen Chris as Brian.

Simon Gorton. Based on his performance yesterday, he should never have been allowed on a West End stage. Something must be wrong when no one laughs during "I'm not wearing underwear today". Shocking, useless.... dire.

I thought the vocals were better when I saw the show than on the cast recording. This was only on Monday, and I still thought it was really good. I'm glad it's extended, might get another chance to see it!

I haven't seen him as Brian. I saw him as Princeton/Rod though and he was great. Not Daniel, but still good!!

Well I saw the show again last night - and it certainly wasn't lacklustre - the whole cast put their all into it and Mark as Trekkie in particular was the standout.

However, I REALLY missed Daniel and Julie - they are brilliant and whilst Simon and Rachel did an adequate job that was about it.

Maybe mine was just an off day, but...



isn't that my point? 'Adequate' isn't really good enough.

I was really just meaning that Daniel and Julie are that much better not that the understudies didn't put their all into it. I just prefer Daniel and Julie's interpretations. The large group of Americans sat in the row behind me LOVED it.

i have seen both daniel and simon and for me i enjoyed simons performance more, although they were both good. but that's theatre for you. having said that i haven't seen him as brian so can't really comment on that. he doesn't look like a brian though.

My issue with Simon is that his Princeton and Rod are too similar. A friend I went with, who was seeing it for the first time, commented that she was impressed that Mark managed to do so many different voices - she hadn't even realised Simon had been doing the same. What can I say - I just love the way Daniel 'camps up' Rod - completely personal preference of course.

I agree with you though, I can't imagine Simon as Brian at all

I've seen Simon G do many-a-Brian. Chris does like his time off - I totally disagree, I love his performance as Brian as much as anyone else's. I think the problem is you feel as though he's a little bit flat and lifeless because the character of Brian is very much a "hovvering in the background" character for the whole two and a half hours; he's not really featured at any point for the whole thing. It's difficult to get an idea of how an actor is playing the part because there aren't any moment when Brian (as a role) really pushes anything. But that's the point, Brian is SUPPOSED to be just this average, regular, every day guy, who in the words of the show's writer "drinks beer, farts, and plays nintendo!".

But 'I'm Not Wearing Underwear Today' should have enough energy in it to make people laugh - his didn't.

Ive seen Hairspray a good few times, with various Brians and to be honest ive never laughed at that song. Its always a bit cringy as its randonly placed I feel and its never got (when ive seen it) a huge response from the audience

It works better in Avenue Q.

I saw Avenue Q again yesterday, after deciding to get some tickets from LastMinute.com and chance where I ended up sitting. Little did I know that we would get the SECOND ROW!!!!

I was in the third row at the Noel Coward before, when Jon and Julie were the leads and loved it then, but there's just something about Daniel and Julie together which made me smile all the way through. Tremendous. I'm scared to go again, because I'm not sure it can top yesterday's amazing experience.

(P.S. Yesterday's matinee 'For Now' line was 'Big Brother is only for now'. Bless)

haha ooops!

I've never found it funny and nor have most of the audiences I've been part of, and I was under the impression that was the point. It's not intended to be funny. It's intended to be weak, so Brian finishes triumphantly and is greeted by a dead silence that is broken only by Christmas Eve's "Get a job!"

Hahah I suggested that line to Daniel Boys via Twitter. Love that they used it!

Great that you got great seats, makes me consider using lastminute for tickets when I finally get round to seeing the show.

I'm going next wednesday!! I wonder what they'll throw in! I'll actually be gutted if it's gone back to George Bush!

Daniel said via Twitter that they didn't get much reaction at the matinee I went to so changed it back to George Bush for the evening. Disappointing. I thought it was realyl funny!

I used Lastminute.com for my tickets and also got the second row of the stalls, so it sounds like they are a good company to use if you like being close and near to the action. The stage is quite high so you do have to look up a bit but personally I like being close enough to really see the expressions on the faces and feel more involved.

I agree with Matthew, I thought the point of the underwear song was that it wasn't funny, leading into Christmas Eve's (much funnier) 'Get a job!' line (which was actually one of my favourite moments in the show - I did so love Christmas Eve!)

Oh and I saw Simon Gorton as Brian and thought he was good, I have only seen the show the once so don't know anything about the regular Brian but I certainly didn't think there was anything wrong with Gorton's portrayal. Plus I liked his ad-lib when the monster school sign failed to properly unravel and he said something along the lines of 'here's the money for your monster school...and to fix that sign...'

And I like the Big Brother line too, perhaps you need to know that it is usually George Bush and that they have changed it, to fully appreciate it.

Julie said they tried 'swine flu' earlier in the week and it went down a treat

I thought the Big Brother line was funny! Haven't seen AvenueQ since probably 2006/2007 - and managed to get £20 seats in the Dress Circle on the day...

Cassisy Janson is the new Kate Monster.

So I heard. Very VERY exciting if it's true!! I said I'd only go back after Julie's gone if they cast someone I love in the role. I love CJ! I shall be there a lot...

'Swine Flu' is only for now tonight!! They seem to be sticking with it!

When do the new cast start?

As far as I know it's only Julie leaving. Her last show is Saturday October 3rd, so her replacement would start on Monday the 5th.

"starts rehearsals for Avenue Q tomorrow! I'm so excited!"

CJ confirmed on Twitter!! I guess I'm allowed to get excited now, not that it stopped me before.

Gaaaaaaaaaaaah, ridiculously excited. I'm going to miss Julie and awful not, but this helps to soften the blow somewhat!

How long is Daniel in it for? Has he extended until the end now?

There is no "end" It's BOOKING til January 2nd, pending extension OR closure. No indication that its closing then. Daniel's contact is til December at the minute, pending extension or termination. He's been doing it 2 years solid now, I wouldn't be surprised it if he calls it a day this time, much as I love him (:

Ols x

Anyone else following CJ on Twitter? First day with the puppets today and her arm aches!! Suprised.

Daniel did a radio interview the other day and stated he was contracted until 1st January (which is a Friday?).

He probably just made a mistake, they would be booking until a Saturday I'm sure.

I hope it extends! I really do love this show and the people in it.

Just saw this last night and it is still on top form! Was my 5th time seeing the show, although the time before was nearly 2 year ago!

Loved Rachel Jerram's facial expressions, everything she did was spot on. Tom Parsons was on as Nicky/Treckie and he was very good, loved his Nicky.

Only person I wasn't so sure on was Joanna Ampil as Christmas Eve. For me, nobody does this part as good as Ann Harada (I've seen her aswell as 3 others in the role).

I love Joanna. If there's one reason I want this to close is so I can see her in something more serious, she has a wonderful voice. I finally caught her leaving SD the other week, she usually legs it. I was well chuffed! I'm easily pleased...

Haven't seen Jo in it yet, but am intrigued to. Have seen her lots in Miss Saigon back in the days and seen her as Eponine and Fantine in Les Mis and think she's got a gorgeous voice, but am not so big on her acting. Will be interesting to see her do something funny.

As for Ann Harada, I adore that woman, I saw her in the OBC on Broadway, so was very excited when she came over with the show. I love her Christmas Eve and nobody else came close for me afterwards either.

Really excited to see Daniel in it as well. I used to go to Q a lot when it first opened, but haven't been in nearly 2 years now, so haven't seen him yet either.

great to read that the show has extended - will be in london in november and i'm planning to see it again (hopefully with daniel - love his princeton/rod).

do they still sell student tickets at the theatre?

£20 best avaliable with a 16-25 Railcard.

Saturday nights £25!

Thanks for the answers. As I'm from Germany I have no 16-25 Railcard so I have to go for student tickets. So do they still sell them?

Found the answer on the website - silly me! ha ha...

Saw the show last night, it's great as ever. Thought understudy Candy Ma was really good as Christmas Eve, and Julie Atherton will be well and truly missed. Have to mention that Edward Baruwa is so good as Gary!

Does anyone know how was Julie's last show????

Julie's last show was ace!! I went to both shows on Saturday. There were a few muck ups in the matinee but nothing huge, the funniest of which was in 'For Now' when Julie was the only one to sing "sex" because the rest of them shut up!

The evening was not as emotional as I expected it to be. Julie was teary but she hid it well!! Tom went on as Nicky/Trekkie in the evening which I thought was kinda sweet, even though I don't like him!! Daniel did a lovely little speech at the end. Didn't get to talk to Julie afterwards unfortunately.

The best moment for me (because I'm a total geek!) was that me and some friends made a card with "Miss you Julie!" on the front in big letters that we all signed. I was sitting on the front row and put it in 'Gary's' hat in The Money Song. Chris (Brian) held it up for all to see. Pretty much made my night!!! Yeah, I know.... But I really will miss her!!! Never found out if she got it though...


Potentially going again next saturday (4 times in 15 days. Extreame much?!) and am very excited to see CJ! If anyone goes before me, be sure to let me know what you think!