Avenue Q

For those of us of a 'certain age' who can remember Sesame Street and The Muppets this is the musical that SHOULD have been made by The Henson Workshop.
Muppet-like puppets (expressly stated as NOT being anything to do with the aforementioned children's series) with Muppet-like voices doing decidedly un-Muppet-like routines. This is Saturday morning TV for adults only.
It takes a little while to get used to the idea that you can see the puppeteers onstage but, once this barrier is overcome, you realise that being able to see the faces of the performers adds a whole new dimension to the show. Now you can read a lot more emotion into the songs and dialogue which wouldn't be so obvious on just the puppets' faces.
The story, of course, is pure Sesame Street, and there are plenty of nods to this inspiration. Young lad feels uninspired by life and directionless; young lad moves to Avenue Q, so far out of town it is the bottom of the ladder everyone wants to climb; meets a variety of characters who enable him to find a direction for his life. So far, all very inspirational, but add into this schmaltz adult themes and this becomes a riotous pastiche that is very funny and very rude. How can you be offended by two puppets having noisy sex? The truism of the Monster's mantra of The Internet Is For Sex confirms what we all think.
A great evening's entertainment which will do well when it starts a nationwide tour to offend Middle England!
Long may it reign!!

© Paul Towers 12/11/2007