Keith Hayes and Nigel Higgs
Presents:
Avenue Q
Tuesday 17th - Saturday 28th February 2015
This musical seems to be becoming a cult classic across the UK and I can now see why....
Avenue Q is an American Musical based on an original concept by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx who also wrote the music and lyrics.
It asks the audience to use their imaginations and be transported to a world of fur! The production revolves around puppetry with the actors working them wearing black and fully visible throughout the production. You do, however, forget about the actors and find yourself mesmerised by the colourful characters involved in the storyline.
Through song and comedy, this production actually touches on some hard hitting subjects such as the anxiety of entering into adulthood, pornography, racism and homosexuality and we even have full puppet nudity!!
The cast consists of 11 puppet characters and 3 human characters and the whole show is lively, fun and extremely entertaining. You have visuals on screens, catchy musical numbers and some extremely funny 1 liners.
We also have a real life person who is put into the script in a fictional situation. This person is Gary Coleman. Coleman was a child actor who played Arnold Jackson in Diff'rent Strokes, a 1980s American sitcom. He famously sued his parents after it was discovered they were delving into his assets. Gary Coleman actually died on 28th May 2010 and to honour him, the Off-Broadway productions in New York and the national tour in Dallas dedicated that nights performance to his memory.
The show mainly revolves around Princeton (Oli Leonard), a college graduate who has an degree in English and is on the hunt for his 'purpose' in life. He finds that the only apartment he can afford is on Avenue Q, where he meets his neighbour Kate Monster (Suzy Donnelly), a kindergarden teaching assistant with dreams of opening her own monster school. The 2 hit it off and we have the usual will they, wont they get together, and yes that full puppet nudity! Will they find love or will Lucy the Slut (Karrise Willetts) come between them? These 3 actors give believable and touching portrayals of their characters, well, maybe not Lucy the Slut who believes herself irresistible to all men. Karrise really does know how to belt out those numbers and made the character as marvellously slutty as she could be.
Also on Avenue Q we have Rod (Duncan McLawrie) who is a Republican banker and his roommate Nicky (Simon Baker). Their story follows the subject of homosexuality and when Rod discovers that Nicky is telling people that he believe that he is gay, he asks him to leave the apartment making Nicky homeless. Duncan McLawrie as Rod really gave us that feeling of hopelessness and indecision while Simon Baker as Nicky was full of life and fun.
Brian (Richard Beckett) and Christmas Eve (MIllie Farrelly) are 2 of the human characters within the storyline. Christmas Eve s a Japanese therapist but can't seem to get any clients, while Brian would like to be a comedian and is unemployed. The show shows their struggle and eventual happiness when Brian gains a job as a consultant. Richard Beckett and Millie Farrelly worked well with the characters and held their own in the midst of puppets.
Trekkie Monster (Mark Murphy & Dave Carey) is an absolute joy. He brings mayhem and fun where ever he goes. He seems to spend his life in his apartment and is in no doubt whatsoever that 'The Internet is for Porn' - he believe in this so much that he has even invested in it!
The bad idea bears played by Christina Peak and Chaz Farmer are the voices in our head that tell us things that we shouldn't be doing but really want to. They are cute, cuddly with an evil streak!
This production was something that Keith Hayes and Nigel Higgs had always wanted to produce and when the licence became available they snapped it up with all 4 hands!! They have lovingly directed and staged this show which is evident from the outset. The movement between scenes had been cleverly thought out and it was apparent that the actors all had a fabulous time entertaining us.
The use of the professional puppets really added to the production and gave it that high quality feel. The puppets and set had been hired from the professional touring production and all of the actors had been on a workshop in London with puppeteers which came across with wonderful handling of the characters. Simon Baker as Nicky and Mark Murphy/Dave Carey as Trekkie Monster really stood out for their exquisite puppeteering skills.
The cast were all extremely talented and there was not a weak link amongst them. I must mention Dane Foxx who played Gary Coleman. His character work, timing, singing and interaction with the audience was outstanding and he is a real talent to watch in the future.
The performances are run by 2 casts so here is a run down of dates and casts:
Princeton - Oli Leonard
Kate Monster - Suzy Donnelly
Nicky - Simon Baker
Rod - Duncan McLaurie
Lucy the Slut - Karrise Willets
Bad Idea Bears - Christina Peak & Chaz 'Saintly Sin' Farmer
Trekkie Monster - Mark Murphy
Christmas Eve - Amelia Rose Farrelly
Brian - Richard Beckett
Gary Coleman - Dane Foxx
Newcomer - Matthew Cotter
Team Kicky (18th, 20th, 24th, 26th, 28th)
Princeton - Richard Ham
Kate Monster - Karrise Willetts
Nicky - Simon Baker
Rod - Duncan McLaurie
Lucy the Slut - Suzy Donnelly
Bad Idea Bears - Louise Grifferty & Eléna Serafinas
Trekkie Monster - Dave Carey
Christmas Eve - Liz Webster
Brian - Richard Beckett
Gary Coleman - Dane Foxx
Newcomer - Matthew Cotter
This is a show definitely not to be missed and we all left the theatre with a skip in our step and buzzing from this theatrical experience.
To book your tickets, you can go to the online booking site: http://avenueq.devclever.net/ or buy your tickets on the door.
What are you waiting for????
The show is being performed at Highbury Theatre Centre,Sheffield Road, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands B73 5HD
Watch out as we will also be reviewing Team Kicky on Friday!!
Review by: Jayne Lunn & Faye Hatch
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