There is life outside your apartment. 
I know it’s hard to conceive. 
But there’s life outside your apartment, 
and you’re only gonna see it if you leave.

And that take on life is so true of Avenue Q. A show which many theatregoers might dismiss without checking it out. I mean, Sesame Street style puppets, really? But with great music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, plus an outrageous book from Jeff Whitty, Avenue Q is a masterpiece. Yes, it’s the parody of all parodies where political correctness is banished to a parallel universe and all you can do is sit back and watch those on stage deliver everything you have ever thought but never had the courage to say aloud. The show utilises a blend of traditional Muppet style and visible puppetry with performers mirroring movements and emotions while also interacting with each other.

Princeton, fresh out of college and looking for somewhere to live, ends up on Avenue Q, because Avenues A to P are too expensive. There he meets a variety of outlandish puppet characters, plus three that are human. I do wonder, though, how long the Gary Coleman joke will remain relevant before folk are too young to get it. There is love, lust, sensitive subjects and … porn. In fact, when I first saw this show many years ago, my fourteen-year-old daughter (at the time) only came because she said she wanted to see the puppet porn. I would like to quote the legend that was Kenny Everrett and say it was, “All done in the best possible taste,” but honestly, it really isn’t, and that’s what makes the show amazing.

Tom Mullins was a brilliant Princeton, and I could feel the angst and irony every time the lines were spoken. In the role of Kate Monster was Carys Charley who was similarly outstanding and giving my number of the night in A Fine, Fine Line. Then, in a parody of Sesame Street’s Bert and Ernie, we meet Rod (Scott Cartwright) and Nicky (Craig McDowall). The chemistry between them was amazing and you do believe in these characters. I love these two, especially during Fantasies Come True. Favourite moment – “You put the earmuffs on the cookie.”

Now, I’ll be honest, the Hard Luck Bears are freaky. It’s like being five again and seeing the Child Catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for the first time. I know they look cute, but these two creep the hell out of me. In this showing Michael Treagust (Boy Bear) and Sophie Hill (Girl Bear) did just that, which was job done. Excellent performances. The porn addicted Trekkie Monster was played by Matt Bridgewater who really looked as though he was enjoying this role too much, so was the conviction of delivery and depravity. Joanne Remes shone in the role of Lucy the Slut (I did say this show wasn’t PC) and was exceptional vocally during Special while the rest of the puppeteers were Janet Fryer (Mrs Thistletwat), Chorley Merrell (Ricky/Trekkie Hand/Robin) and Emma Shaw (Newcomer/Nicky’s Hand/Mrs Thistletwat’s Hand). Finally, the three real-life creatures in this marvellous show were Brian (Ben Adams), Christmas Eve ((Jennifer Chow) and Gary Coleman (Patison Harrigan). All on top form, they were perfect and convincing in acting alongside their less than human counterparts.

There are so many great numbers in this show. Sucks to be Me, Life Outside Your Apartment, Schadenfreude, I Wish I Could Go Back to College … I could go on. I also have fondness for Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist and The Internet is for Porn. However, my favourite is Rod’s panicky cover up short and My Girlfriend Who Lives in Canada and the end line of, “I just can’t wait to eat her pussy again.”

Avenue Q was the debut show for new amateur company, Theatre SSL which came about by the desire to put on this show, and what a success the result was. Hannah Finch (Director/Choreographer), Sophie Hill (Musical Director) and Jacob Finch (Producer) can be extremely proud of this production. What a great show. Everyone should see it.

Cheers.

Antony N Britt

*Photos taken from social media.