AVENUE Q by Carol Kaufman Segal

           

 Avenue Q is a musical that won the Tony award in 2004 for Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Book.  Not a wonder, because it is a most unusual musical comedy featuring puppets and human actors.  The people responsible for those Tony Awards are Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx (music and lyrics), and Jeff Witty (book).  An amazing production of this unusual and outstanding show is presented by the Group Rep at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in North Hollywood.

            

The story is about coming of age and learning what growing up entails.  Recent college graduate, Princeton (Joey Flint) arrives in New York and with little money, ends up in an unkempt apartment all the way out on Avenue Q (great set design by Chris Winfield).  However, he is not alone on Avenue Q.  He meets other young men and women in the same predicament, coming into adulthood and looking towards their future.

           

Seeing the show for the first time, you may not be aware that most of the characters are performed with puppets.  On Avenue Q, we find Rod (also played by Joey Flint), Kate Monster/ Lucy the Slut (Hartley Powers), Mrs. Thistletwat/Girl Bear (Harley Walker), Nicky/Trekkie Monster/Boy Bear (Troy Whitaker), all performed flawlessly with puppets.  Other people living on Avenue Q (but not performed with puppets) are Brian (Ashkhan Aref), Gary Coleman (Courtney Bruce), and Kristina Reyes (Christmas Eve).

           

All of these characters are in for a lesson about growing up, taking responsibility and making it in the world.  It all comes about through humor and noteworthy lyrics.  The cast brings it all to life under the astute direction by Patrick Burke.  The musical direction is by Paul Cady, orchestration and arrangements by Stephen Oremus, choreography by Michele Bernath, and the fantastic puppets were created by Director Patrick Burke, inspired by designs of Rick Lyon.

            

Don’t miss this exceptional production of a very extraordinary and popular show, now playing at the Lonny Chapman Theatre, 10900 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood.  Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 2 PM, through July7.  Talk backs after June 9 and June 23 matinees.  Tickets are available online at www.thegrouprep.com, or by phone at (818) 763-5990.      

            

You might think, because Avenue Q is performed with puppets, that it would be suitable for children.  However, Jeff Witty has written it with adults only in mind.

           

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