Avenue Q
Book by Jeff Whitty
Music and Lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx
Based on the Original Concept by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx
Orchestrations and Arrangements by Stephen Oremus
Directed by Bryan Stevenson
Reviewed by Natalie Shaw
This is the story about how a lot of lives are "flip-turned upside down." Avenue Q, in all of it's hilarity, shines light on this daunting reality that twenty-something-year-olds experience after college graduation, embracing the petrifying question, "Now what?" all by use of puppets! (Literally, puppets on a stick with masterful puppeteers!) Oh yes, we can laugh about it now, but during this transition period, there are a lot of tears and mourning for our epic college days that seem to end so suddenly. Making friendships, finding love, making inevitable mistakes and maturing into the realization that we're not "special" and that we are not exempt from the hardships of the real world are the only honest ways in which we can survive these life events. Scene one introduces us to Princeton, our protagonist, who is learning these lessons one at a time, the hard way. Bryson Petersen plays an adorably inexperienced Princeton who is searching for affirmation and affection during this maturing phase, while also searching for his overall "purpose" in life, as if it will somehow fall into his lap from the heavens. Petersen artfully grasps Princeton's delicate and optimistic personae with the greatest endearment and wholesome primitive innocence. Princeton's love-interest, Kate Monster is likewise dreamy and wide-eyed, while awaiting her big break as an elementary educator, as well as any romantic prospects. Jessica Humphrey beautifully portrays Kate Monster's rosy, but witty personality with a pleasant, but sharp insight, delivering zingers in the direction of Lucy the Slut when she must needs be put in her place! Lucy the Slut is portrayed by non-other than the exceptionally talented Brandy Raper, who was just named as a Dallas Theatre Journal's Access Artist. Raper has recently appeared in Gypsy as Rose at Theatre Arlington, and The Underpants as Gertrude at MainStage Irving-Las Colinas. Here, Raper acts as puppeteer for a self-obsessed temptress, Lucy the Slut, who flicks her hair, lifts her breasts and seduces the innocent Princeton. But, she is no match for Kate Monster, who may be soft, but doesn't take anything lying down, unless she wants to.
Speaking of lying down, can we just take a second to talk about the steamy sex scene between Kate Monster and Princeton? (Yes, I said sex scene, between puppets!) I mean, WHAT did I just witness?!! Avenue Q, as written, is an over-the-top hilarious experience, (you won't find anything funnier, prove me wrong!) and this scene takes the cake! During the musical number, "You Can Be As Loud As The Hell You Want (When You're Making Love)" Puppeteers Petersen and Humphrey so effectively perform the act of love-making with their assigned puppets that we, the audience, forget that we're watching puppets. My God, I felt like I needed a cigarette! Audience members, in uproarious laughter, reached out to one another, confirming that what was before them was just too comical for words. What I did manage to mention to my neighbor was, "Um, I have two kids, I can't be as loud as I want to be! Best to scream into a pillow." Now, when else might I have the opportunity to share this private information with a friendly, but total stranger? Thankfully, she was in agreement with me on this matter. With intermission shortly following this scene, myself and other audience members may have been slightly flushed and sweaty, feeling the urge to go home, much like the character Trekkie Monster (played by the talented and charming Andrew Nicolas) to take care of some urgent business, preferably with a spouse or significant other. Phew! Moving on...
Director Bryan Stevenson's Avenue Q boasts incredible creativity with (my favorite!) rotating stage and an amazingly funny, and talented cast who must be introduced! Andrew Nicolas plays the porn-loving Trekkie Monster with a hearty and hilarious audacity that is side-splitting, resembling a sex-crazed "Cookie Monster," and thus forever crushing the nostalgic memories of our wholesome childhood "Sesame Street" friend; all in great fun! This is now the second time I've observed a performance by Nicolas at Theatre Arlington, and it's plain to see that his skills and abilities go far. I am very much looking forward to his next project! Neighbors and friends within the setting on the street of "Avenue Q" are Brandon Wilhelm's Brian and Lindsay Longacre's Christmas Eve, who are characters without a puppet, along with Jayden Russell's Gary Coleman. Wilhelm brings us a fun-loving, hard-up comedian, Brian, who is in a long-term relationship with Christmas Eve. Longacre delivers a powerful performance as the strong-willed Christmas Eve, with a beautifully belted solo in her duet with Kate Monster, "When you Ruv Someone." Russell's Gary Coleman is comedically perfect in interpretation, as the "Whatchu Talkin' Bout Willis" character who many of us know and love. Puppeteers Landry Beckley and Lindsay Hayward bring us two adorable, but naughty Bad Idea Bears with perfect scheming and comedic timing! These two are bad influences on our beloved protagonists, behaving as the villains we love to hate! Hayden Lopez puppets the dim-witted, but well-meaning Nicky with a delightful flare, while Darin Martin masters his well-to-do counterpart, Rod, who has yet to come out of the closet as homosexual, with comical intensity. In humorous spirit, Nicky and Rod reflect the relationship that many friendships exhibit, one in which there is a difference in sexual orientation between the pair. Rod denies his homosexuality, as a means to protect his reputation, while Nicky encourages him, albeit in an embarrassing fashion, to come out of the closet, because Nicky will always accept him as his friend.
Theatre Arlington's live band musicians Vonda K. Bowling, Andrew Goins, Dennis Langeview and Jay Majernik with music director Mark Mullino provide the score for this high-energy musical, making our live Theatre experience uniquely unforgettable! Our gorgeous rotating stage is decorated to the hilt by Bianca Folgar, while creative projections that help tell the story are brought to us by Stevenson, sound design comes courtesy of Ryan Simon and Lighting Design is provided by Kyle Harris.
Theatre Arlington's Avenue Q is richly fierce and blissfully daring, opening the door to new insights while forcing us to laugh at our own ignorance. I have never laughed this hard at a musical in all my life! You must, must, MUST make plans to see this! And, you better hurry up, because tickets are selling out! Grab yours at theatrearlington.org
Y'all Enjoy!
Natalie
Audience Rating: M for Mature: Language, Sexual content, gestures. These puppets are not for kids!
Running Time: 2 hours with a 15 minute intermission
Accessible Seating: Available
Hearing Devices: Available
Sensory Friendly Showing: Not Available
ASL Showing: Not Available
Volume Level: Comfortable, but may be loud for some patrons
Noises and Visuals to Prepare For: gunshot sound, rope tied as a noose, intimate sex scene, beeping of medical/hospital equipment
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