Avenue Q: Ally went, bet you wish you had too...

My mom told me once that she thought nothing you experience when you're young truly prepares you for how tedious life can actually be.  Apparently the mothers of the creators of Avenue Q passed on similar thoughts... Which led them to creating a smash hit musical and me to writing for PLANK Magazine.  But I digress.

Avenue Q is a Broadway musical first staged in 2003.  Nominated for six Tony Awards, it won three and continued running for several years. Now touring, Avenue Q is Sesame Street meets twentysomething post post-secondary angst.  And the puppets are out in full force - there are three human characters and eleven puppet characters.  But unlike Sesame Street, the puppeteers are onstage for the audience to see as they operate and voice the puppets.  In addition, they swear (a lot), get nude and have sex onstage.  Not exactly what I remember from educational television.

But damn funny.  With songs including "The Internet is for Porn" and "It Sucks to be Me", the residents of Avenue Q are busily offering their ideas about life and love through a cheerful pastiche of educational, easy to remember lessons.

So - what did I learn from Avenue Q?  First, you can get away with almost anything if you make your audience laugh.  Second, it's okay to watch a puppet show as an adult.  Third, you might as well push the boundaries and see what happens if you do. Fourth, a show consisting of a string of cute, catchy songs where not much happens can be a mega-hit IF you include puppet sex.

You can check out Avenue Q for yourself this week at the Centre for Performing Arts.  I noticed today that Tickets Tonight is offering half-price tix which is not a bad idea at these prices...  If you go, I would love comments on what you feel you learned!

For more information get all puppet-like here.