The groundbreaking, Tony Award-winning musical Avenue Q has made its triumphant return. The question remains: how will its early 2000s perspectives resonate with contemporary audiences? Will its controversial numbers like “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist” and “If You Were Gay” still hold their ground?
Rehearsing a West End production typically presents its own set of challenges. However, current rehearsals for Avenue Q have introduced a unique hurdle: the flaccidity of a key performer. “This one’s too floppy,” exclaims actor Noah Harrison, finding his choreography hampered by a dance partner lacking proper support. No offense is intended, as the culprit in question is fashioned from felt. It’s time to replace this less-than-sturdy character with a more robust alternative, and a multitude of options are readily available. Rows upon rows of puppets, reminiscent of those found on Sesame Street, line the rehearsal space, each anticipating its turn in the spotlight.
This is Avenue Q, the celebrated hit that journeyed from Broadway to London, featuring music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, and a book by Jeff Whitty. The show is now being revived to commemorate the 20th anniversary of its West End debut.
Upon its initial release, Avenue Q’s distinctive blend of colorful, childlike puppets tackling real-world issues such as sex, racism, the housing crisis, and existential ennui, coupled with its audacious musical numbers, felt utterly novel. This innovative approach earned it Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Book, and Best Score. While the original target audience of young adults has now matured, a new generation stands to gain valuable insights from the narrative it continues to offer.
Naked Puppets! Lusty, Foul-Mouthed Musical Avenue Q Returns
The taboo-shattering, Tony Award-winning production has returned. But how will its 00s attitudes land today? Will they still sing “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist” and “If You Were Gay”?
There are certain challenges you might anticipate when rehearsing a West End musical. Then there are the current issues arising, concerning the flaccidity of a prominent performer. “This one’s too floppy,” protests actor Noah Harrison, who is struggling with the choreography because his dance partner lacks backbone. No offense is taken, mind you: the culprit is made of felt. It’s time to swap out this cloth character for a sturdier one, and there are plenty to choose from. Row upon row of Sesame Street-alike puppets flank the room, each awaiting its moment in the spotlight. This is Avenue Q, the Broadway-to-London hit, with songs by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, and book by Jeff Whitty, now revived to celebrate 20 years since its West End premiere. When it first launched, its mixture of multicoloured kids TV puppets, real-world problems (sex, racism, the housing crisis, existential drift) and outrageous songs felt truly out of the blue, and secured it Tony awards for best musical, best book and best score. But the young people to whom its story was addressed are now all grown up, and a new generation could benefit from the tale it has to tell.