Verdict: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 (reviewed Saturday 5 October).
Presented by Blackout Theatre Company, Avenue Q is sort of like Sesame Street for adults. Sliding into South Park territory, the show inverts and subverts children’s entertainment. If wild, raunchy, inappropriate, anti-woke humour be your jam, then this musical is right up your alley. Best of all it features a range of adorable muppets too!
Some of the adult themes explored in this 2hr show might be considered controversial, but to be honest I LOL in the foyer reading the program’s songlist.
The show’s music and lyrics by Robert Lopez & Jeff Marx are done in a rosy sweet-songy voice, including Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist and The Internet is for Porn. There are also songs that elaborate on the themes of self acceptance and finding your purpose.
Written by Jeff Whitty, Avenue Q is set in a rough neighbourhood, with a shabby apartment building that has ‘at least’ 40% of asbestos removed. Jordan Anderson’s set design and direction immerses us in the fun theatrics of this production.
A video projection on stage right features suggestive and sentient infomercials, encapsulating us in a world where the universe is conspiring to teach us valuable life lessons.
TV child actor Gary Coleman (from Diff’rent Strokes) is presented as a key figure in the narrative, landlord to the apartment block on Avenue Q. Although planted as a ‘joke’ because of his spectacular career-fail, Coleman is played by Koren Beale with sympathetic charismatic chutzpah, and it feels appropriate to remember his comedic legacy in this way.
The puppetry is done extremely well, suspending all disbelief. Unlike Sesame Street where the puppeteers were hidden, here we see the puppeteers in full view operating and voicing their puppets. Puppets were hired from The Rehearsal Room and specifically created for Avenue Q.
Some puppets have two humans to get the full gesticulation of their expressive hands. Second hands credits include the character of Nicky (Eddie Langford), Trekkie (Liam Vicari) and Mrs Thistletwat (Nicole Joy Harwood).
Delving into the storyline, Princeton is a preppy 20-something year old puppet, fresh out of college and looking for a place to live. While examining the apartment block on Avenue Q, he meets furry puppet Kate Monster, and the two eventually get together and hit it off. Puppeteered by Jack Maidment and Fiona Brennan respectively, Princeton and Kate Monster make a cute couple. And yes, they do *all* the couple things on stage *wink wink*. The puppeteers definitely have note-worthy moments to list on their resumes!
Classic big scary monster, Trekkie Monster is puppeteered by Alexander Irby (and dude must be relishing the chance to say “PORN!!!” over and over again).
Sultry cabaret artist Lucy-the-Slut is puppeteered by Marika Zorlu with a wonderfully seductive voice.
Bad Idea Bears (Girl and Boy) are puppeteered by Jess Pearce and Dylan Bonifacè respectively. The bears are like little devils that persuade Princeton and Kate to take the worst possible course of action.
There are loads more puppets featured in this show including a love-hate situation reminiscent of Ernie and Bert. Rod is an uptight closeted gay Republican (puppeteered by Robert Hall) and Nicky is his messy roomate Nicky (puppeteered by Jason Oxenham).
The voice inflections are hyper-animated yet authentically expressive, creating a world of imagination filled with adult yearning and desires.
There are also some human characters such as Brian and his controlling wife Christmas Eve (played by Andrew Jackson and Lisa-Marie Long respectively). The premise for Sesame Street is that adults can always be trusted to be rational, responsible and give good advice, but here adults are presented as either being social climbers or cunning in getting what they want.
In the end the theme of doing good for others prevails with triumph. Avenue Q is just as wholesome in that regard as the show that inspired it, if a little more spicy, adult-orientated and wickedly funny in its delivery.
Avenue Q is playing at Pioneer Theatre in Castle Hill til 13 October. For tickets and showtimes, go to https://www.pioneertheatre.com.au/whats-on/avenue-q
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CREDITS:
Music & Lyrics – Robert Lopez & Jeff Marx
Book by – Jeff Whitty
Presented by – Blackout Theatre Company
Images
Supplied by – Aaron Salwat, Stage Manager & Jess Edward, Choreographer
Cast
Princeton – Jack Maidment
Brian – Andrew Jackson
Gary Coleman – Koren Beale
Rod – Robert Hall
Lucy the Slut – Marika Zorlu
Mrs Thistletwat – Brooke Elizabeth
Crew
Director – Jordan Anderson
Choreographer – Jess Edward
Sound Engineer – Kieran Vella
Kate Monster – Fiona Brennan
Christmas Eve – Lisa-Marie Long
Nicky – Jason Oxenham
Trekkie Monster – Alexander Irby
Bad Idea Bear – Dylan Bonifacè
Bad Idea Bear – Jess Pearce
Musical Director – Alvin Mak
Production Manager – Helen Bell
Costumes – Kate Simmons
Ensemble – Tristan Foon • Will Kilgour • Liam Vicari • Emelie Woods • Eddie Langford • Nicole Harwood • Brianna Ayres