Reviewed by Claudia Perry
Warning:
Puppets have entered the building! Warning: Due to adult situations (like
full-puppet nudity) this show is not for everyone: Avenue Q - translation "Sesame
Street for 20 Somethings" or "Muppets Gone Wild." But hold on,
"Avenue Q" has not been authorized or approved by The Jim Hensen
Company or Sesame Workshop and for good reason. These puppets say nasty,
cynical things about people and the world; they have sex; they run around
trying to find themselves and their purpose in life and enjoy internet porn!
Hey, they sound just like young, unhappy adults!
Composer/Lyricists
Robert Lopez
and Jeff Marx
had an original concept to write three episodes of a Sesame Street parody for adults.
This turned into a full scale musical with a book by Mark Whitty. It centers on Princeton, a
college grad who comes to New York City with big dreams and a little bank
account. He can only afford to live way out on Avenue Q where everyone else is
looking for the same thing he is -- a little love and a "purpose" in
life.
Like
Sesame Street does, this show combines puppets with live actors and animated
shorts. But unlike Sesame Street, we get to see the puppeteers right on stage
alongside the puppets. For me this is a total plus because personally, I find
the puppeteer more interesting than the puppet. A human face has a much bigger
range of emotion than any type of marionette, so I tend to watch the actor and
not the funny thing attached to their arm. But, there's no doubt about it -- if
you like to see puppets in funny, but decidedly naughty, adult situations, then
you'll love "Avenue Q". There are very funny songs like, The
Internet is for Porn, You Can Be As Loud as The Hell You Want and There is Life Outside
Your Apartment, and
catchy ones like For Now
.
There are several very talented performers who not only have to sing and act
but work the puppets as well. Robert McClure does double duty as both the
lead puppet Princeton and the closeted gay, investment banker, Rod, and does an
awesome job of switching voices and personas. Kelli Sawyer is superb as both Kate Monster,
the sweet substitute teacher puppet and Lucy, the sex bomb. Minglie Chen is just adorable as Bear, a
sweet voiced little Care Bear look-a-like that tells everyone to do bad things!
David Benoit
does a great Trekkie Monster voice reminiscent of Cookie Monster - only
Trekkie's vice is porn not cookies. There are also actors who do not work
puppets such as Angela Ai who is very funny as the character Christmas Eve and Carla
Renata who
portrays a down on his/her luck Gary Coleman.
The
super realistic set by Anna Louizos contrasts sharply with the other over the top,
make-believe elements in this production. She's crafted a street scene that is
a dead ringer for one you'd find in New York in Alphabet City on the Lower East
Side. Video screens drop down from time to time to give us little animated
lessons in counting - such as counting Night Stands. Five Night Stands, Four
Night Stands, Three Night Stands, Two Night Stands - One Night Stand. Ha, Ha.
Yes, there are a lot of laughs in this show - but like the catchy song says,
Each time you smile.
(only for now)
It'll only last a while
(only for now)
Only for now
Life may be scary
But it's only temporary
Only for now!