REVIEW: Avenue Q [Theatre Buff]

Theatre Buff

Behind the scenes after the final curtain call...

REVIEW: Avenue Q

Posted on February 5, 2008 5:43 PM
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Avenue Q
Noel Coward Theatre

Review by Katie Spain

What do you get if you cross Ernie, Bert and a busty blonde?

I met the men behind the monsters from 'Avenue Q' and found out that even a puppet can be hot. Especially when the 2 men 'pulling their strings' are the epitome of tall dark and handsome. Is it right to fancy a man who spends his days with his hand up a puppet's rectum?

If all things crude, rude and confrontational are your cup of vodka infused tea then 'Avenue Q' may be just the West End theatre experience you've been looking for. It tore through Broadway wreaking success at every turn and is now here to put some fun back into British life. The musical follows the journey of a bright-eyed college graduate called Princeton. In search of a 'purpose' he moves to Avenue Q, (think sesame Street on crack); armed with a tiny bank balance and a lot of lust. Along the way, he meets a variety of weird and wonderful friends and neighbours... perhaps the most crude and endearing of all is the Internet loving 'Trekkie Monster'.

During my forage into their dressing rooms, I soon discovered the characters are a riot offstage as well as on. It didn't take long to work out why Trekkie Monster's signature song is 'The Internet is For Porn'. Imagine Cookie Monster with a fetish for breasts rather than biscuits. He was like Russell Brand in ventriloquist form; a furrier nympho I've never seen. It's no wonder society is sex-obsessed... have you seen the state of your inbox lately? Anyone for a member extension? Honestly, does anyone even read that drivel? If today's SPAM is anything to go by, there are a lot of men walking around out there with a girth to gloat over.

If you happen to be under developed in all the wrong places, fear not. If you can't afford surgery just head down to 'the Q' at the Noel Coward Theatre in London's West End. It'll soon teach you that it doesn't just suck to be you - it sucks to be everyone else as well.

Related links:
Avenue Q tickets and listings.