Avenue Q Review

For those of you who don't know... I am a HUGE fan of musicals! Like any good critic, I am very particular about which ones I like: (ex. Wicked really didn't do it for me. The music was superb, but the show was pretty weak)... Some of my favorites are West Side Story, Hairspray, Mamma Mia, Footloose, Grease and the High School Musical trilogy.

Last night at the Warner Theater I saw a unique musical that has taken Mamma Mia's #1 spot on my list of "Best Musicals of All Time!" Avenue Q was absolutely the most fantastic show I've ever seen. Here is the review that I wrote for my school paper...

A stereotypical Broadway musical features glittery characters dancing across a stage while singing about life and flashing unnaturally happy facial expressions.

Avenue Q is NOT your typical Broadway musical. The three-time Tony winning play tells the story of Princeton, a recent college-grad who moves to New York City with nothing but a BA in English and a strong desire to find his purpose in life. Directed by Jason Moore, Avenue Q uses both human actors and muppets, (designed by Rick Lyon), that perform using a backdrop almost identical to the set of Sesame Street.

The best word to describe Avenue Q is “hysterical.” Despite its small cast and simple stage design, the musical’s crude humor and hilarious songs blow the rest of Broadway out of the water. Avenue Q shines because of its fearless approach to taboo subjects like race, sex, internet porn and homosexuality.

Each of the show’s characters brings his or her individual personality to the stage to create an all-star cast of muppets and humans. Furry characters like Trekkie Monster, (a perverted porn addict), and Kate Monster, (a kindergarten assistant who is desperate for a boyfriend), have entertaining and relatable problems that will make you forget their fabric skin and lack of legs.

Some of the show’s stand-out characters are Christmas Eve, (a feisty Japanese human trying to succeed as a therapist), Lucy the Slut, (a seductive cabaret muppet), and the Bad Idea Bears, (muppets that encourage money wasting, binge drinking and suicide). The characters’ bizarre idiosyncrasies and hilarious lines help create a show that could easily compete with the comedy of Dane Cook, SNL and South Park.

The highlight of Avenue Q is not its memorable characters or its eccentric themes but its musical numbers that make you drop your jaw, laugh out loud and nearly pee your pants. Two of the show’s best tunes are Everyone’s A Little Bit Racist, (which makes you ask… “Are they really singing that!?”), and The Internet Is for Porn, (a bit coarse but ridiculously amusing).

Some of Avenue Q’s creative songs poke fun at commitment, awkward relationships and other love-related topics that are not often talked about in public. Mix Tape, sung by Kate Monster, features her reading songs off of a cassette while figuring out if the gift’s giver, Princeton, wants to be her lover or her friend…

“Sometimes when someone has a crush on you, They'll make you a mix tape to give you a clue. Let's see..."You've Got a Friend" "The Theme from 'Friends'" "That's what Friends are for"… Shit!”

By offering two hours of non-stop comedic entertainment, Avenue Q is a must-see for college students. Most parents would enjoy the show as well, but the questionable content may be inappropriate for children under 13. Playing at the Warner Theater through February 15, Avenue Q will leave you running to the merchandise stand singing the songs from its unforgettable soundtrack.