Who knew I needed a G-rated Sesame Street spoof in my life? Who could’ve predicted that a grumpy purple puppet singing about porn addiction would actually be funny? Avenue Q blends wit, edgy humour, musicality, and expert puppetry into a show that will leave you wondering ‘what did I just watch?’
The show follows Princeton, played by Marc Robertson, a fresh-from-university puppet as he attempts to find his purpose. He is joined by a lively cast of characters that make up Avenue Q.
The show plays its humour close to the edge, with songs like ‘Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist’ and ‘The Internet is for Porn’ making you feel slightly guilty for laughing – but you can’t help yourself.
Some of the show’s standout performers for me were Jessica Grant and Josie Morrow, who played Kate Monster and Gary Coleman, respectively. Grant’s voice is evidently well-trained and delightful to listen to. Morrow’s Gary Coleman had the audience in stitches, and her voice brought a strength and maturity to the already hilarious character. The entire cast was overall very strong, and at their best performing powerful group numbers.
Though I felt the show was slightly too long and could do with some omitted scenes, an intermission helps break it up, and there truly never is any shortage of action.
One of my favourite songs, ‘I Wish I Could Go Back to College,’ perfectly encapsulated the themes of the show, I found. With an achy nostalgia, characters look back on simpler times while still acknowledging it’s time to move onto the next step. As a soon to be final year university student, I found myself mourning an experience that isn’t even over yet.
Avenue Q is the show for young adults who don’t quite know what comes next, but who can only hope it’s exciting and meaningful; I’ve never had so much in common with a bunch of colourful singing puppets.
Avenue Q is running until 30 August at Lower Hall at Braw Venues at Grand Lodge. Buy tickets here.
Image by Mark Chan for The Student.
