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“It’s a musical with puppets in adult situations, yes, I said puppets.”
Synoposis: Avenue Q tells the story of Princeton, a bright-eyed college grad who moves to NYC with big dreams and a tiny bank account. The only apartment he can afford is way out on Avenue Q, where everyone’s looking for the same thing he is: a decent job, a stable relationship, and a “purpose.” Eventually, Princeton learns to embrace the ups and downs of city life and realizes that “the real world” isn’t so bad after all.
Imagine a world constructed in the Sesame Street aesthetic but populated by characters as foul mouthed as the kids on South Park, throw in a bunch of songs and that’s Avenue Q. Yeah, I know, it’s quite the unlikely recipe.
While most of the songs have an overall good message, like “Everyone’s just a little bit racist”, and “Sucks to be me”, other songs like “The Internet is for Porn” might not resonate with all theatre goers. That said if you enjoy it, you will really enjoy it. The songs are funny the Puppeteers are Quite talented.
An interesting thing about the presentation of the show is that you can see the puppeteers at all times. You could easily watch this show twice once watching the puppets, and once watching the puppeteers who are easily as animated as the “actors” they control.
The Choreography to make this work is amazing. Nicky who is a green version of Ernie is operated at most times by two puppeteers a guy and a girl. And while Nicky’s Voice is always done by the guy, the girl has to match his steps and run Nicky’s mouth when the voice actor is doing conversations between Nicky, and Treky another of the monsters on Avenue Q.
The set is quite well done. It combines a “Transforming” Street scene that unfolds to be the insides of apartments, and some Flat-screen TV’s that fly-in from the top to provide graphics in Sesame Street style lessons about Purpose, and One Night Stand.
Christmas Eve one of the few “Live” actors is the “Maria” of Avenue Q, a Japanese Woman working as a therapist with no clients. She helps the various other characters through their “Newly Adult” issues, such as finding your purpose, landing a boy friend, and being gay (and landing a boyfriend). But in a very un-Maria like way, she may be the most “grown up” emotionally, but she dresses like a J-pop idol in Pink Platform Sneakers and Pink Running suit, and later in a Wedding dress that screams Christmas Tree, not Christmas Eve.
If you have to opportunity to see “Avenue Q” take it, you will not be disappointed!
