Everything's A-OK in Supa Productions' snappily staged adult parody of everybody's favourite American children's show, Sesame Street with catchy, bouncy music and cheekily clever lyrics.
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"It's a fine, fine line between a lover and friend," says puppet Kate Monster (Emma McCormack).
It's also a fine line between amateur and professional in a show, tightly directed by Jarrad West, assisted by musical director Elizabeth Alford and the band, and choreographer Pierce Jackson, who makes the most of the narrow forestage in front of Chris Zuber and Nick Valois' impressive set design.
Valois also puppeteers the central role of Princeton, who has arrived at the bottom end of town on Avenue Q in search of purpose in his life. His neighbours are an assortment of humans, including a couple, therapist Christmas Eve (Nina Wood) and aspiring standup comedian Brian (Riley Bell) and child star Gary Coleman (Joanna Licuanan Francis).
Popular Sesame Street characters undergo an adult transformation.
Cookie Monster is a porn–obsessed Trekkie Monster (Robert Stankov in an impressive debut theatrical performance).
The outrageous Miss Piggy becomes the breathy, sexy seductress, Lucy T Slut (Josie Dunham) and Bert and Ernie may be recognisable in the characters of closet gay Rod (Joel Hutchings) and his messy flatmate Nicky (Dave Smith).
Mischievous tempters, Bad Idea Bears (Kate O'Sullivan and Dave Smith) and grouchy teacher Mrs Thistletwatt (Jo Burns) make up the odd assortment of people in the neighbourhood, searching for purpose, looking for love, helping each other and eventually discovering meaning in an adult world.
With its lashings of satire (Everyone's A Little Bit Racist), low self-esteem (It Sucks To Be Me), dollops of pathos (It's A Fine Fine Line), smatterings of schmalz (Fantasies Can Come True) and pure porn (The Internet Is For Porn), Avenue Q has something for every broadminded adult with a risqué sense of humour, a penchant for the irreverent and a touch of empathy.
West's multi-talented cast assumes the challenging task of breathing credible life into their puppets, while also managing to fully engage with their characters. Solo and full company numbers are sung with gusto, although sometimes losing diction at the high register.
Supa's production is a show that once again confirms the very high standard of musical theatre in the region. It's a sunny way to wipe the clouds away if you can make it down to Avenue Q.
Avenue Q. Music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx. Book by Jeff Whitty. Directed by Jarrad West. Musical director Elizabeth Alford. Choreographer Pierce Jackson. Supa Productions. Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre. Recommended for mature audiences. Until May 13. Bookings: theq.net.au or 62856290.
