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Avenue Q entertains editor

By Sam Fran Scavuzzo
Collegian Editor
February 6, 2007

It’s weird that one of the more realistic musicals I have seen was primarily performed by puppets. But that was the case when the Tony-award winning Avenue Q national tour stopped at the Forrest Theatre at 11th and Walnut this week.

Picture a foul-mouthed Sesame Street that still keeps its morals and you’ll have Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx’s play. Debuting off-Broadway in 2002 and making it to the main stage the following year, the show features songs on a variety of amusing subjects, including “The Internet is Porn,” “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist” and “If You Were Gay.”

The gimmick that draws crowds initially, but fades into normalcy by its excellent performance is that the primary characters are portrayed by puppets. Despite the fact that actors in the show appear on stage with their hands up the tuchis of the puppets, as an audience member, you forget the characters aren’t real. Yes, there are some pure human characters—including the borderline racist Asian character, Christmas Eve—but the puppets own the day.

And the characters are what really make the show because you empathize with their real problems. Whether its Rod’s closeted homosexuality, Kate Monster’s need to be loved or Princeton’s inability to find his purpose, Avenue Q relates well with college students who want to change the world, but sometimes feel it is hopeless.

The plot follows Princeton, a twenty-something, orange-faced, college graduate with no purpose in life. Played by Robert McClure (who was in the Arden Theatre’s production of A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum last summer), Princeton falls in love with Kate Monster (Kelli Sawyer), gets tripped up by the hussy Lucy the Slut (Sawyer) and makes poor choices based on the Bad Idea Bears (two furry, adorable consciences, who destruct more than instruct).

Essentially, Princeton needs help finding himself and the play revolves around that premise. Not too deep, but it allows for a variety of fun plot lines that are enhanced by multimedia video elements.

Sawyer and McClure excel as they each portray two main characters. The range between their puppets is staggering, often a four-person scene will be done by the two of them. Their acting, dancing and puppeteering are excellent.

Other personal favorite aspects of the show include a brief, psychedelic “propose” sequence, any scene featuring the bears and the set in general. An exterior of an apartment complex is the basic stage piece that transforms into a bar, hospital or Empire State Building seamlessly.

The only drawback is the tired running joke that the apartment is run by former child celebrity Gary Coleman (Carla Renata). Although the actress playing Coleman does a fine job, the Diff’rent Strokes, “Whatchutalkinbout Willis?” jokes don’t get to the point of being tired because they were never funny in the first place.

Aside from lame Coleman, Avenue Q is a good example of the creative evolution of American theater and what is to come in the future. It runs at the Forrest until Feb. 10.

scavuzzos1@lasalle.edu

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