Timeless appeal of Avenue Q
The AJN reviews a new production of the puppet musical comedy Avenue Q which is currently being staged at Melbourne’s National Theatre.
AVENUE Q, the puppet musical which premiered on Broadway in 2003, retains its heartfelt humour and social relevance in a new production at the National Theatre, St Kilda.
Staged by Jewish producer Andrew Gyopar’s independent musical theatre company AG Theatre, it draws on talented recent graduates – and some experienced hands – who can act, sing, dance and deftly control their puppets.
Most of the roles in Avenue Q are set around puppets and monsters, ably led by Harley Dasey as Princeton and Zoe Crisp as Kate Monster, both graduates of the Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts with a bright future on the stage.
Princeton is looking for a job after graduating from college and rents a room at an apartment block in a fictional street – Avenue Q – in New York and soon strikes up a friendship with kind-hearted kindergarten teacher Kate Monster, who longs for a boyfriend.
Among the other zany tenants are aspiring Jewish comedian Brian (Matthew Tomlin) who is engaged to Japanese-born therapist Christmas Eve (Chiew-Jin Khut), cantankerous recluse Trekkie Monster (Andrew McDougall) who has some of the show’s funniest lines as he surfs the internet in search of pornography, cabaret artist Lucy (Cassie Ogle) and the apartment superintendent (Stephanie Lacerna) named Gary Coleman, based on the former 1970s and 1980s child star of TV sitcom Diff’rent Strokes.
The action flows seamlessly thanks to the assured direction of Pip Mushin, who has previously helmed a production of Avenue Q for Jewish music theatre company JYM in 2012.
Avenue Q drew inspiration from the kids TV show Sesame Street and tackles a range of issues including the meaning of life, love, homelessness, racism, depression and homosexuality.
The functional set of a double-storey apartment block allows for rapid scene changes, aided by a TV monitor with humorous graphics keeping the audience up to speed.
The six-member band, led by musical director Alexandra Byrne, showed polish performing catchy numbers and poignant ballads.
Avenue Q won awards for Best Musical, Book and Score at the 2004 Tony Awards. This production is classy, entertaining and keeps the audience engaged.
Avenue Q is at the National Theatre, St Kilda until March 22. Bookings: agtheatre.com.au/avenueq