I went to The Regent Theatre in Hanley last night to see Avenue Q and was positively delighted with what I saw! Here is my opinion on the performance, the actors and the plot.
Avenue Q
Hanley, The Regent Theatre, Tuesday 20th March 2012, 7:30pm.
Being the winner of the 2004 Tony award for best musical Avenue Q is, in my opinion, one of the most iconic musicals of our generation. Audiences in Stoke-on-Trent are lucky enough to be blessed with their presence this week only from Tuesday 20th March – Friday 24th March in Regent Theatre, Hanley where you can see this fabulous musical for yourselves! You will never laugh as hard as you do over this performance!
The story behind Avenue Q is one not so far from real life. A new guy rocks up on Avenue Q wanting a place to stay. He finds a home within Avenue Q and makes numerous friends including the colourful Christmas Eve and fiancé Brian. Closet-gay Rod and room-mate Nicky, Pervert Trekkie Monster, loveable Kate Monster, the bad bears and last but not least Lucy the Slut.
As the audience we are taken on a journey along with the puppets through discovery, finding the meaning to your life, relationships, break-ups, weddings and a whole whirlwind of other emotions that we all contend with in everyday life.
With comedic songs such as ‘The internet is for porn’, ‘Everyone’s a little bit racist’ and ‘If you were gay’ the comical genius behind this musical is paramount throughout the performance.
You have to hand it to each and every actor within this musical that they have got every detail spot on. The voices are flawless and the characters loveable.
Each of the characters has been so well thought out that they all have endearing qualities, even pervert Trekkie Monster!
For anyone who has never seen this musical before you are missing out. I had not seen it until last night but I didn’t know what I was missing! The songs are amazing, the cast are wonderful and the story is an emotional roller-coaster that will make you think about your life!
The cast of this fantastic production on the 2012 tour are as follows:
Kate Monster/Lucy the Slut – Katharine Moraz
Princeton/Rod – Sam Lupton
Nicky/Trekkie Monster/Bear – Chris Thatcher
Mrs T/Bear – Daniella Gibb (who is also understudy for Kate Monster and Lucy the Slut)
Christmas Eve – Julia Yammanee
Gary Coleman – Matthew J Henry
Brian – Edward Judge
The music and lyrics are by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx and the book by Jeff Whitty. Jason Moore acted as director and the puppets were designed by Rick Lyon. The choreography was structured by Ken Roberson.
For anyone who has not seen this and you live in the Stoke area, get yourself down to The Regent Theatre every day until 24th March and find out for yourself why this musical is so amazing!
Victoria V L Walker
