Created in 2003, Avenue Q has to be one of the best modern musicals. It has everything you could want — rude jokes, catchy tunes, sarcastic lyrics and occasional jazz hands — and it tackles the kind of modern issues we can all relate to. How do you find your purpose in life? What makes a good friend? Will I ever achieve my dreams?
These ideas are not overstated, but rather tackled through the stories of several charming characters living on Avenue Q, and some seriously funny songs. Everyone's A Little Bit Racist, It Sucks To Be Me, The Internet Is For Porn and You Can Be As Loud As The Hell You Want (When You're Makin' Love) are but a few of the incredibly well-written numbers.
Reminiscent of Sesame Street and The Muppets, there are also some very cute puppets. Manipulated superbly by onstage performers, they can't fail to capture your heart as they undergo the full range of human experience and emotion and even get drunk and have sex onstage.
Considering that the production is off West End and on the Greenwich Theatre's relatively small stage, we didn't expect such a high-quality of performance. But Sell a Door Theatre Company is excellent — the cast is seriously talented and the production is seamless. Performers Lucie-Mae Sumner (pictured), Stephen Arden and Tom Steedon excel in particular with their fabulous voices and captivating puppet-acting.
Put simply, this is an unmissable show and worth battling tube strikes (or even wild horses) to attend.
Avenue Q is at the Greenwich Theatre, Crooms Hill, until 11 May. Tickets priced £18.50-£26 are available via the Greenwich Theatre website. Suitable for ages 14+. Londonist received a complimentary ticket to review this show.
