Avenue Q

In September, after having played more than 2,500 performances, Avenue Q ended its six-year run on Broadway. In October, the show re-opened Off-Broadway—the first time a show has made such a transferred. And it appears to be a wise move. The lower operating costs are giving the show a new lease on life. Avenue Q has always been an intimate show; it does not have any particular need to be in a Broadway theater. And this cute, unusual show has been rather well-maintained. It still sparkles.

Conceived by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, who wrote the music and lyrics, with book by Jeff Whitty, Avenue Q is a take-off on TV’s Sesame Street, featuring engaging puppets (like Rod and Nicky, suggested by Sesame Street’s Bert and Ernie, and Trekkie Monster, suggested by Cookie Monster), only these puppets deal with grown-up themes like sex, relationships, and the search for a purpose. The show remains a great deal of fun. Most of the current cast members are alumni of the Broadway production or of the national tour. Particularly appealing are Seth Rettberg and Cullen R. Titmas (as Rod and Nicky, respectively). The only disappointing performance came from Sala Iwamatsu as Christmas Eve; she simply does not have the vocal chops needed to do justice to her character’s big song. But the show, overall, is filled with life. And numbers like “If You Were Gay,” “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist,” and “For Now” continue to speak to us.

(Pictured: Princeton, Seth Rettberg, Kate Monster and Anika Larsen; Photo by Carol Rosegg)

Chip Deffaa
Cabaret Scenes
October 31, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org