“Avenue Q?  Isn’t that the one with the puppets?!”

 

Naturally, I didn’t have high expectations of going to see what I thought would be the Muppet Show on a Friday evening.  Then again, I wasn’t quite so prepared to enjoy myself as much as I did!

 

Yes a puppet show it certainly was but I don’t know any puppets that cover issues such as racism, homosexuality, self-discovery, pornography (yes you read pornography) and one-night stands! 

 

The Muppet Show this certainly isn’t! 

 

This alternative musical follows the journey of Princeton, a bright-eyed college graduate who arrives and settles in Avenue Q.  There he ponders what the purpose of life is, meeting all and sundry offering help and guidance along the way.

 

The song lyrics will have you in stitches and I bet even before the intermission you’ll believe that the puppets are actually speaking!  The characters of the musical are such that almost anyone will be able to identify with them: the girl who falls for the boy next door, the ethnic minority who is laughed at for being ‘different’, or the monster who is obsessed with the internet for all the wrong reasons!

 

The humans behind the puppets are incredibly talented.  The way that one person can create and maintain two completely different voices (and sing) is remarkable.  The cast is also cleverly camouflaged in dark clothing so that eventually you don’t even ‘see’ them anymore and begin to solely focus on the puppets.

 

One word of warning though… this is definitely one not to watch with younger siblings or parents… prepare to wish you could disappear into a black hole if you do!

 

By Salma Hossain