Avenue Q

• Written by: Jeffy Whitty (book)
• Website: www.avenueqthemusical.co.uk

Enjoying a fourth successful year's run in the West End, the very irreverent, quite crude but extremely funny musical, Avenue Q, is currently being housed in Shaftesbury Avenue's Gielgud Theatre. With music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, and book by Jeff Whitty, this Tony award-winning show is not for the sensitive among you. Indeed, the show which combines performance and puppetry, might be considered quite shocking. However, in our age of instant gratification, instant access and of events seen and read every day that may lead one to feel we're all on the edge of doom, young 'Princeton's' (Daniel Boys) and neighbours' predicaments are really quite tame. Set on a New York street that is as far from the moneyed fame of Park Avenue as you can get, college graduate 'Princeton' is gallantly trying to follow his dreams and find a purpose in life. However, young men are so easily distracted, and it's just the same here. His journey of self-discovery is far from smooth-sailing; what with the usual difficulties that life may throw up. Such as being jobless, conversations littered with statements of political incorrectness, and searching for porn on the internet. And that's just involving 'Princeton's' puppet acquaintances! These things, and more, are all just part of 'Princeton's' journey, and a very witty one it becomes. Director Jason Moore has gathered an extremely clever and adapt cast, including Julie Atherton as 'Kate Monster' and 'Lucy The Slut', and Edward Baruwa as 'Gary Coleman', and Avenue Q can consider itself one of the more ingenious of London theatre musicals. Be warned, however; don't go if you're of a sensitive nature. Or indeed, if you're under the age of 15 years. You won't get it. Indeed, you shouldn't! But if you do go, Avenue Q is a jolly good laugh, and is booking until January 2010.

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