Avenue Q

~~Avenue Q is home to some lively and off the wall characters that are performed by an alliance of humans and puppets.

The story follows Princeton (Alex Hillman), who comes to New York City with big dreams and a tiny bank account. He soon discovers that the only neighbourhood in his price range is Avenue Q; still, the neighbours seem nice. There’s Brian the out-of-work comedian (Stuart Cocks) and his Japanese therapist fiancee Christmas Eve (Sue Rourke). Nicky (Darren Alderton) the good-hearted slacker and his roommate Rod (Ross Cobbold), an Internet addict called Trekkie Monster (Alan Jenkins), a very cute kindergarten teaching assistant named Kate (Sally Goddard) and a night club singer Lucy (Helen Stoddart). Together, Princeton and his newfound friends struggle to find jobs, dates, and their ever-elusive purpose in life.

There was little to criticise in Matt Sackman’s production well supported by choreographer, Kate Walsh.  The Band under the baton of Alan Pring was excellent and the entire cast were superb.  It was absolutely fascinating to see the puppeteers making the puppets shadow their own physical movement (or should that be the other way round?) with lip-syncing perfection.  I thought Princeton, Alex Hillman, Trekkie Monster (Alan Jenkins), Kate (Sally Goddard) and Lucy (Helen Stoddart) (and puppets) were exceptional but this should take nothing from all the other puppeteers who were all absolutely amazing.

However much I eulogise about the furry members of cast and their manipulators I should not ignore the human members. We enjoyed great performances too from Stuart Cocks, Sue Rourke and Tatenda Madamombe as Gary Coleman, all larger than life Avenue Q ‘human’ residents who more than held their own amongst all the fur.  
 
This show was obviously a team effort with the backstage crew as much involved as the cast. I could go on but if I do will end up with a long list of names!  Suffice it to say the whole cast worked as one to create an outstanding performance.

Once again a brilliantly directed show with an extremely talented cast!

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