Avenue Q is a XXX version of Sesame Street complete with a lengthy, puppet sex scene. But don?t write off the lewd show as just that.
The Tony-winning musical, playing at the Hippodrome, has plenty of heart and talent to match its funny, politically-incorrect zingers and songs such as “Everyone?s a Little Bit Racist” and “The Internet is for Porn.”
At the heart of the crass and clever show is puppet Princeton (Robert McClure) fresh out of college and money, searching for his purpose in life. He?s moving into New York?s Avenue Q neighborhood, where he meets his friendly, quirky neighbors ? both puppet and human.
The story follows Princeton and his oddly endearing neighbors as they struggle to pay the rent, keep friends, enjoy a love life and find satisfaction.
From furry monsters to ?educational? cartoons, Avenue Q parallels Sesame Street.
Change the addiction from cookies to Internet porn and voila, Cookie Monster is Trekkie Monster ? a foul-mouthed neighbor, who illicits howling laughter from the audience.
Roommates ?Rod and Nicky? are ?Bert and Ernie? reincarnated. Rod, the ?Bert,? is a Republican investment banker whose neighbors suspect is secretly gay. His thread provides one of the funniest song and dance numbers, “If You Were Gay.”
Kelli Sawyer demonstrates her range and vocal prowess by seamlessly transitioning from Princeton?s love interest, Kate Monster, a mild-mannered Kindergarten assistant longing for a boyfriend, to Lucy the Slut, a cleavage-bearing entertainer, longing for a one-night stand.
Sawyer?s powerhouse crescendo during her solo as Lucy is a welcome change from her solid yet simple tunes as Kate Monster.
All of the actors passed the endurance test that is intrinsic to performing in the taxing show.
Not only do they act, sing and dance, but they nail the hat trick while bringing the puppets to life. Their performances are so convincing, the audience overlooks the puppeteers to empathize and cheer for the puppets as if they were real.
If you want to have a hard laugh, pay attention to the bad idea bears, who plague Princeton with chants such as “do something for yourself” and justifications such as you?re wasting money if you don?t buy beer in bulk.
The show should be mandatory for graduating seniors or disenchanted 20-somethings.
IF YOU GO
Avenue Q
WHEN: Through Dec. 23
WHERE: The France-Merrick Performing Arts Center Hippodrome Theatre
12 N. Eutaw Street
COST: $30 to $70
INFO: 410-752-7444
