Two hours on Avenue Q – where everyone's a little bit racist – and where it sucks to be you – is a lot of fun.
This multi-Tony Award-winning musical, On- and Off-Broadway, follows three human characters and eleven puppets navigating life's journey in the style of Sesame Street: scenery, characters, singing, parables – think Sesame Street on stage – and then add some naughty bits. And Gary Coleman.
Fresh out of college, Princeton is seeking to make his mark on the world, but can only afford an apartment on Avenue Q. While not the most salubrious of addresses, it does offer an abundance of furry, colourful tenants. Princeton learns more from the avenue about relationships, money, sexuality, consequences and the internet than from any university degree.
The Brisbane Arts Theatre has tackled this production for the second time in as many years – and three times in four! Artistic Director John Boyce qualified the move at season launch, “Avenue Q is always a huge hit with Brisbane audiences. After completing our season in 2014, we had a waiting list of hundreds of people who missed out, so the audience has spoken and we are back for the third time!”.
Opening night social photos.
And so Avenue Q opened its two-month run to a full and highly appreciative house on Petrie Terrace last weekend. William Toft and Lara Boyle (central characters Princeton and Kate Monster) led an abundantly talented ensemble which acted and sung as well as many found in professional theatre. Truth be told, the Brisbane Arts Theatre blurred that delineation some years ago.
Trent Richards' addicted-to-porn Trekkie Monster was the standout puppet voice character in the bevy of talent, while co-director Katherine Alpert's (on stage as Christmas Eve) singing was remarkably strong.
A quick scan of the cast shot and you’ll sense just how manic the goings-on can be. Unlike its TV cousin, the majority of the cast can be on stage at any time – making for engaging theatre which feeds into the sense of the avenue's community. A community which isn't afraid to get naked. Or watch porn.
The set is faithful to the original, the lighting crew met the challenge of the at-times frenzied cavorting and fast-switching character emphases – and just because they can, the Brisbane Arts Theatre performed all songs with a live band.
You'd be forgiven for having a 'what the heck did I just watch' moment, but that's all part of it. This marriage of a funny and accessible script, catchy, relevant ditties with a talented cast makes this incarnation of Avenue Q a must-see.
Avenue Q plays until 19 December at Brisbane Arts Theatre.
