Funny monsters, but take an open mind (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Funny monsters, but take an open mind

3:22pm Friday 3rd February 2012 in Theatre & Arts By Alison Phillips

Avenue Q Theatre Royal, Bath Until Sunday, February 5

DO see this if you like originality: Don’t if you hate profanity.

Do see this if you like clever lyrics: Don’t if you’re offended by in-your-face sex involving monsters and cuddly toys.

Do see this if you can admit to holding double standards: Don’t bother if you know what you think is right.

Do see this show if you love musicals: Don’t go expecting a crude version of Sesame Street.

With a fresh cast of principals and puppeteers, including Sam Lupton, who makes a great stage debut with Princeton and Rod, Avenue Q will continue to win fans.

The street full of oddballs, struggling with the way their lives have turned out and facing problems common to us all – unemployment, getting a date, being accepted for who you are – makes a simple storyline.

The songs are bright, bouncy and very very 21st century in their approach, which has earned the show its X-rating. News of the musical’s delights is spreading, which probably accounted for the unexpected mix of ages in this audience.

Not all of them got it, presumably either not liking the material or finding difficulty with the leap of belief needed to dis-associate the puppeteer from the character.

Avenue Q is completely original (the puppets are Hensonesque, no more) and writers Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx have a remarkable ear for a deft melody and incredibly witty lyric – who would have thought you could get a song out of Schadenfraude? Ironically sung, of course, by the Gary Coleman character.

Which is one of the best things about this show, you need to keep on top of the jokes and references. I liked the Bad Ideas Bears best, and their religious comeuppance.

On Tuesday those seeing it for the second time were delighting in finding new treasures they missed first go round.

If you can’t get tickets for Bath, the show is touring and will be in the area again later this spring.