Avenue Q
Location: Gielgud Theatre
We all grew up enjoying great puppet characters from the likes of Sesame Street and The Muppets, but we never thought we would grow up and witness a stage production that takes elements from these classic shows and twists them into a new form.
Say hello to Avenue Q, the show that has been taking the West End and Broadway by storm. It features a whole host of foul mouthed and downright oddbeat characters and has been drawing up critical praise since its original Tony Award winning Broadway run in 2003 (Best New Musical, Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score 2004).
With awards and praise like this it was no wonder that the show would eventually find its way to the UK, arriving at the newly reopened Noel Coward Theatre in 2006. Its run at this location has since finished, but the show is due to reappear at the Gielgud Theatre soon, undoubtedly destined for the same level of success way into the future.
Though it is not from the makers of Sesame Street, nor is it attributed to it in any way, it is clear to see where the influences lie, as a host of puppet characters takes us on a journey in a New York suburb. It is one of the reasons why the show is so popular, as people who grew up with the show arrive curiously awaiting a world that takes this style and subverts it.
But what is Avenue Q about? The title refers to the street upon which the story is set, where Princeton has just moved after recently graduating from College. He brings with him all of the expectations, hopes and dreams that anyone holds when they have just emerged through the College doors but he is yet to decide in which direction is life will go. Little does Princeton know, but Avenue Q is about to decide all of that for him as he embarks on a whole world of sexual distractions in this sordid street. Amongst the colourful characters he meets are a porn loving monster, a former child star, a closet homosexual and a busty blonde, all sporting names such as Kate Monster and Lucy the Slut. It is easy to see why it is has been likened to Sesame Street meeting South Park head on.
Avenue Q will soon be arriving at the Gielgud Theatre, so make sure you have your theatre tickets ready for this great West End show. It has been wowing crowds on both sides of the Atlantic so makes sure you do not miss out.