May 2018

PG-13 Puppets

If you can’t name a Tony-award-winning show and don’t have a favorite score, Blackfriars Theatre is about to present a performance that’s likely to become your favorite play. Imagine your favorite early-childhood television series rewritten by your favorite comedian. Avenue Q, running May 11th through 27th, will almost certainly come closer to the resulting hilarious absurdity than any other contemporary Broadway show. It’s a hilarious coming-of-age tale with puppets singing catchy tunes with even more infectious lyrics — songs like “The Internet is for Porn,” “I’m Not Wearing Underwear Today,” and “What Do You Do with a B.A. in English?”

Open-Minded and Foul-Mouthed

Don’t be fooled by the puppet-filled presentation; Avenue Q is not for kids. Just like life in the city will do, Avenue Q thrusts its characters into the perils of adulthood. Princeton, the protagonist, makes new friends whom he joins in the struggle to find jobs, dates, and their ever-elusive purpose in life. As they take on the various puzzles of adulting, these puppets curse, carouse, and explore their sexuality. In the end, though, there’s a message of hope and belonging. Avenue Q is fast-moving and laugh-packed, particularly for audiences willing to embrace its rebellious, politically incorrect spirit.