Avenue Q: Expect energy and intensity

The premise is a simple one: a disillusioned young college graduate ends up living in New York in an "affordable" neighbourhood full of loveable weirdos whose lives are not exactly panning out the way they wanted. The grit and scrabble of everyday life in the city is made alien and ironic by most of the actors using Muppet-style puppet torsos as surrogates, singing about their drinking and love of pornography through their fixed, sunny expressions.

This poses something of a challenge in expression, explained actor Kerri Brackin: "One of the main things that initially distinguishes characters in the show, apart from the puppets, are the distinct voices of each one." All the actors have to learn how to perform not only through their own bodies, but through the substitute bodies of the puppets they control. Brackin herself plays two characters, "a crabby old kindergarten teacher named Mrs. T. and the girl half of the Bad Idea Bears." (The Bears are the most over-the-top representation of the pervasive irony of the show: a couple of sweet childhood teddy bears who encourage the characters to indulge all their worst vices through syrupy, high-pitched cheerleading.)

According to Brackin, this touring production features a cast somewhat younger than the original Broadway production that many readers will already be familiar with, so you can expect a more intense and energetic show. "It's a great group of people," she says rapturously. "They make us look great on stage."

Avenue Q
@ National Arts Centre, until June 27




 
 

		Write your comment on this article!

avenue Q     This is a very good musical comedy.The music and the songs are excellent. Lots of the subjects of this comedy is controversial-sexuality-racism-.It is done with puppets similar to Sesame Street.The young actors are amazing.The decor is a street in New York.Very well done.
micheline pelchat		June 24th, 2010
Avenue Q     I won the tickets to see this musical and I was not really wanting to go but went at last minute. I have to say that the actors were very good, lots of humour and the subjects were interesting. Even though I enjoyed it, I really had trouble sometimes understanding them when they talked. I could not get some of the words being said and had to ask my daughter once in awhile, what they had just said. But it was good. There were alot of people and i think they got their money's worth. I really liked Christmas Eve, she was so funny. I feel she kind of made the play interesting. If you get a chance to see it, please go you wont be disappointed. Even though the sound was sometimes not good, (could of been just me), i had an earache all day.
Louise Lacroix		June 25th, 2010

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