LIFE IS A LITTLE BIT SHIT WHEN YOU’RE FEELING BLUE

By Jonathan Duffy
He’s blue and charming and was once a closeted Republican investment banker, but now life is fabulous for Rod - the out and proud star of the hit Broadway musical Avenue Q. In the days leading up to Avenue Q’s Brisbane debut, QNews was able to catch up with Rod to have a chat about life, love and the funniest show you will ever see.
Q: Firstly thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to speak with us.
Rod: Oh, Yeah well it’s nice to be here. We’ve been having a good time touring around the country seeing all the sights.
Q: Have there been any sights you’ve been particularly interested in?
Rod: Well I’ve been particularly interested in the gay bars in most of the cities. I’ve done the Mars Bar in Adelaide, and Cube in Canberra.
Q: And you’ll be heading to Qld in a few days, are you looking forward to any particular sights in here or are you just going to fly by the seat of your pants.
Rod: Oh wow! I tend to fly by the seat of my pants everywhere so, yeah I hear the Sportsman Hotel is somewhere one goes in Brisbane, so you know we’ll definitely check that one out. But I’m definitely looking forward to being at QPAC too. I’ve been told it’s a very lovely theatre and ultimately you know I’m all about theatre so that’ll be great.
Q: You haven’t always flown by the seat of your pants though have you?
Rod: Well you know I don’t want to give too much away, but as you say I’m kind of, you know, I’m kind of conflicted in the play and I live with my room mate, Nicky. We’ve been compared to Sesame Street’s Bert and Ernie except that, I’m a closeted, kind of, Republican Investment Banker and Nicky my flatmate is a stoner, pot-head “Gen X” slacker. So we’re not really a great mix, we’re very different. In the course of the play I come to understand what it’s like to burst out of that closet screaming and raving and it’s quite a wonderful thing.
Q: Good for you! Do you imagine that gay audience will take away something positive from Avenue Q?
Rod: Oh yeah, I mean the entire show is essentially about community, tolerance and inclusion. I think it’s also one of the funniest things I think you’ll ever see. Mostly it’s my stuff that’s funny. Everybody else is you know, they’re ok but my stuff’s the best so just look out for me. I’m blue and I’ve got red eyebrows and I wear a green suit and have extremely big hair. So you won’t miss me.
Q: We’ll make sure we have a nice picture of you in the magazine.
Rod: That’s right, yeah. (high pitched giggle)
Q: I do have to ask Rod, after your journey of self discovery, do you still iron your underwear?
R: You’re very good with the lyrics of the show aren’t you? You’re right onto it there. Yeah of course I do. I think it’s important to iron your underwear. No one wants crinkly Calvin’s. And even though I do reach a kind of level of self-acceptance in the show, one’s personal hygiene and dress standards need to be maintained. So I will keep ironing my underwear. This annoys my flatmate Nicky but, whatevs.
Q: And he’s been quite helpful to you in this whole process?
R: Oh you know (pauses) he kind of annoys me in the show I’ve gotta say. He basically outs me to the rest of Avenue Q and that’s not so comfortable for me but ultimately Nicky’s a beautiful boy but these straights, sometimes they don’t get it. Bless them though. But it’s his friend Ricky who ultimately becomes the person who saves me. He’s lots of fun.
Q: Avenue Q has been a smash hit throughout the US, what can Australian audiences expect?
Rod: Well as you know it beat wicked for the Tony award for best musical. From the stage we see people convulsively laughing in the audience and as well as hearing gasps of horror and recognition. It’s about realising that everybody in their 20’s and 30’s feels a little bit shit about their life and it’s ok. We all feel that so move on. You’re not Robinson Crusoe in feeling a little bit dissatisfied. I think that’s quite a nice message for a show to be putting out.