Review: Avenue Q

The cast of Avenue Q may be puppets, but they're unlike any felt thespians that you've ever encountered before! Abigail Upfold reviews the smash-hit musical.

This certainly isn't Sesame Street! 

The innocent, catchy songs of Big Bird and co have been replaced with titles such as: “If you were gay”, “Everyone`s a little bit racist” and “The internet is really great for porn” - this should give you some idea of the type of show this is.

Princeton, a recent college graduate looking for his purpose in life – who is unemployed and living off his parents allowance - finds the only place he can afford to live is Avenue Q, in an apartment block which is bizarrely managed by `Gary Coleman` of Diff'rent Strokes fame (What you talking bout Willis?).

Here he meets his neighbours, some of whom pass a remarkable resemblance to original Sesame street characters, such as Nicky and Rod (Ernie and Bert) and the Trekkie monster (think cookie monster with a porn addictio). 

He also meets Kate monster, who he fancies, and invites out to a show at the Around the Clock Café, where Lucy the Slut - a sexy full-on singer is appearing.

Coaxed on by the Bad Idea bears to have a `harmless cocktail`, Princeton and Kate both end up drunk and have sex with each other, which only puppets could get away with on a Swindon stage, to much hilarity from the audience.

Princeton and Kate declare their mutual love for each other, until Kate catches the bouquet at Christmas Eve and Brian’s wedding. Princeton, scared of commitment, asks Kate just to be friends citing it's better to find his purpose in life alone – Kate, upset, says she has plenty of friends and calls off the relationship.

Feeling low, Princeton gives a now homeless Nicky (who Rod has kicked out for suggesting he was gay) a quarter, and realizing it has made him feel a lot better, sets out to raise money so Kate can open her own school for monsters - successfully doing so, when Trekkie donates a large sum of money following his own traumatic experiences as a monster at school.

Princeton and Kate decide to give their relationship another go, and the other neighbours also find their own kind of happiness. Princeton has an idea that after it all, his purpose in life is to pass all his experiences on, in a Broadway musical. But the rest ridicule him, reminding him that we are all only here a short time and lots of people never find their purpose in life, but it still goes on.

The cast both vocally and physically became the puppets characters incredibly well, making the audience forget that there were actors there at all. The talent of being able to have conversation as two different characters was something that could only be awed upon. The whole show was choreographed and staged exceedingly well, and the vocal ability of all the performers was something to be admired. The whole show had the audience in stitches of laughter and certainly came in to Swindon with a bang!

Providing you are not a child or easily offended, this is an adult “Sunny days, sweeping the clouds away” show.

If you haven’t already, I would highly recommend you to get yourselves tickets to this hilarious musical. If you want a good laugh, Avenue Q is a definite.

Running until Saturday night, limited tickets are available via Wyvern Theatre box office. Don’t miss out!

Tickets are available from the Swindon Theatres Box Office on 01793 524481, alternatively click here to book online.