Avenue Q @ The New Theatre
From opening line “What do you do with a B.A. in English?” to the uplifting closing thoughts “Life may be scary, but it’s only temporary” the Tony Award winning musical Avenue Q is an absolute joy.
Tackling racism, unemployment, sex, homophobia, porn, the purpose of life and more besides, the show uses puppets alongside actors to create the funniest and most life affirming couple of hours you will ever experience. And I don’t hand out hyperbole for nothing.
Set in a fictional street in an "outer-outer borough" of New York City, the story is centred around Princeton, a recent college graduate who is anxious to discover his purpose in life but finds that the reality of keeping an apartment and finding job get in the way. He is welcomed to Avenue Q by his new neighbours; Kate Monster, a frustrated, single kindergarten teaching assistant; Rod, a Republican banker, and Nicky, his messy roommate; Brian, an aspiring comedian recently laid off from his day job; Christmas Eve, Brian's Asian fiance and a therapist with no clients; Trekkie Monster, a surly recluse who surfs the Internet all day in search of porn; and a pastiche of child “star of TV’s Diff’rent Strokes” Gary Coleman who is stuck as the building’s superintendent.
The characters are young adults who face real-world issues with uncertain outcomes, much unlike the simplistic problems and invariably happy resolutions seen on Sesame Street and The Muppets. Avenue Q is a grown up version of those classic children’s shows and as opening number “It Sucks To Be Me” introduces us to each character, we instantly enter into a world that, puppets aside, is reassuringly true to life. We are reminded that “everyone’s a little bit racist sometimes/but it doesn’t mean we go around committing hate crime”, that “the more you love someone the more you want to kill them” and that “if you were gay, it’d be okay” within a slick and engaging story line. By tackling some potentially controversial issues head on via mock-educational songs, the audience is soon in stitches and it felt like the whole building was grinning by the time one of the characters has her dream made a reality. As for Princeton, his purpose still eludes him at the end of the show, but having been told within the final song that “apart form death and paying taxes, life is only for now” he can’t help but cheer up. And as the curtain closes, neither could I.
Quite simply, the show is just incredible from start to finish. The top song writing, strong character creation and cheeky yet charming humour clicks with the audience in a way I’ve never experienced before. Above all, the universal messages of love, friendship, self confidence and tolerance, delivered with enough tongue-in-cheek to keep you giggling for a week, make Avenue Q a must see for everyone. It is the musical of our generation and really is too good to miss.
At the New Theatre until Saturday. Book here.
Info Sport & Leisure Performing Arts Acting, Drama and Theatre
2 Comments – Postiwch sylw
SamuelPatterson
Rhoddwyd sylw 51 mis yn ôl - 24th February 2012 - 12:37pm
Ah this is so amazing! I've got my tickets to go and see it this afternoon! I just love it so, so much =D And I'm glad you loved it to Tom! Everyone should go and see it =P
gadget guy
Rhoddwyd sylw 51 mis yn ôl - 25th February 2012 - 18:16pm
Avenue Q is like The muppets for teenagers