Avenue Q

Avenue Q
Music & Lyrics: Robert Lopez & Jeff Marx. Book: Jeff Whitty. Brisbane Arts Theatre. Director: John Boyce & Katherine Alpert. Musical Director: Faron Swingler. 17 Oct – 19 Dec 2015

With its insanely catchy score, its clever book, and its set of lovable characters, Avenue Q is a real musical theatre hoot, and Arts Theatre’s revival of their 2014 production is still hugely enjoyable.

Who doesn’t love the denizens of New York City’s worst street address and 12 years after it premiered on Broadway little has dated (except perhaps making a mixed-tape).

The young, mostly 20 or 30-something audience lapped up the pop-culture references and identified like crazy with the characters. Songs like “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist”, “It Sucks to be Me” and “The Internet is for Porn” always bring the house down, and “There’s a Fine, Fine Line” still works on a tender emotional level.

Griffith Musical Theatre alumni Joshua Moore in the lynchpin role of Princeton does great work, sings well, and brings warmth and humanity to the character. Opposite him as Kate Monster, Maree Butterworth also displayed some fine acting chops, as did Nathan Hollingworth, an audience favourite as Rod. His “My Girlfriend Who Lives in Canada” was a riot.

Trent Richards landed all the laughs as Trekkie Monster (you can’t go wrong with this role), Natalie Mead sang up a storm as the Super, Gary Coleman, whilst Lucy the Slut vamped lasciviously in Lauren Ashlea Fraser capable hands.

Andy Kennedy’s set design mirrored the Broadway original and worked well on Arts’ small stage, Faron Swingler’s musical direction was assured and didn’t overpower the performers, while the joint direction of John Boyce and Katherine Alpert kept the whole show pacy. Final kudos must inevitably go to the superb puppets and their creators. They were brilliant.

Peter Pinne

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