AVENUE Q

“The Internet is really really great… For porn”

A review by Tanya Howard

After a failed attempt at submitting an idea to the Jim Henson Company co-creators Jeff Marx and Bobby Lopez decided to create their own Muppet-style characters based on themselves and their friends. Using their own thoughts, experiences and attitudes, alongside writer Jeff Whitty, they began to create a narrative for Avenue Q.

Avenue Q is a laugh-out-loud musical that tells the story of a recent college graduate named Princeton who moves into a shabby New York apartment all the way out on Avenue Q. There, he meets Kate (the girl next door), Rod (the Republican), Trekkie (the internet sexpert), Lucy The Slut and other colourful types who help Princeton finally discover his true purpose in life!

Unlike Sesame Street and The Muppets, Avenue Q swap out the cute and cuddly for potty-mouthed and cheeky puppets who have all experienced real life highs and low. This isn’t a kids show as it includes a number of adult themes including racism, anxiety, drinking, internet porn and gay love. People take less offence to puppets with the show only ever having complaints from Republicans yet they make fun of blacks, Asians, Jews, frat guys, gays, Indian cab drivers, Scientologists and Republicans.

The show is made up of three human characters and numerous puppets, brought to life by four puppeteers, but there is no hiding this from the audience. Despite the puppeteers not being hidden you quickly forget and are focused on the puppets, the storyline, the hilarious songs and the incredible skill of the cast. The puppeteers handle multiple puppets and the cast seamlessly switch between each character throughout the show.

My favourite of the night was Tom Steedon’s portrayal of Trekkie Monster, who is obsessed with porn and when Kate Monster, of no relation, sings of the wonders of the internet Trekkie repeatedly interrupts her to state that The Internet Is Made For Porn, as the song is so aptly dubbed. Tom also played Nicky, the roommate of another character Rod who is thrown out of the apartment and ends up homeless, and one of the Bad Idea Bears who encourage everyone to make bad choices.

Cecily Redman played Kate Monster, a kindergarden teaching assistant, and Lucy The Slut, I don’t think I need to explain that one but by day she’s a singer in a dingy bar. She has the most incredible voice and is clearly very comfortable on the stage. She switches easily between the characters attitudes and voices and her rendition of There’s A Fine, Fine Line was stunning and I also loved Everyone’s A Little Bit Racist that she featured on with the rest of the cast.

Lawrence Smith played the main character Princeton, and Rod, a Republican investment banker who is firmly in the closet, to the point where this is the reason he kicks out Nicky because he is trying to make him admit it to the world because it’s okay If You Were Gay, another song title. Megan Armstrong was the fourth of the main puppeteers covering the characters of Mrs T, Kate’s boss at the school, the second Bad Idea Bear and the second arm for Trekkie Monster.

Covering the human inhabitants is Saori Oda and Oliver Stanley, playing loveable couple Christmas Eve, a struggling therapist with no customers and Brian, her unemployed fiancee. The couple have a great chemistry and Saori is hilarious as she performs the song The More You Ruv Someone, but at times her voice got a little too high pitched so I struggled to understand some of the words.

Nicholas McLean is the other human character, playing child actor Gary Coleman who is now the landlord and handyman of Avenue Q. The cast is completed with Jasmine, Ellis Dackombe, Chloe Gentles and Robbie Noonan, the ensemble, who help to ensure that the show runs smoothly, assisting with puppet switches and just making sure everyone goes off without a hitch… Except for the offensive songs of course.

I saw the show a few years back at The Churchill Theatre in Bromley so I was really excited to go back and see it again. I had also really built up the show to my friend that I took along with me and I’m glad to say that it did not disappoint at all. It’s remained fresh, dynamic and spirited and whilst it may come across as crude, indecent and offensive the show is a must see with the incredible energy of the cast and the hilarity of the songs and storyline. In the current climate of doom and gloom I would definitely encourage seeing Avenue Q to put a smile on your face and for a night full of belly laughs.