It's all good on 'Avenue Q'

By: Jeannette de Beauvoir, November 7, 2011

Courtesy Cape Rep Theater - Jessica Albon plays a dual role with her alter ego in Avenue Q, a quirky musical now playing at Cape Rep Theater in Brewster.

There’s “a new breed of musical” playing at the Cape Rep Theater in Brewster, one that’s touching and hilarious and wild.

After taking New York and London by storm (it was Broadway’s “triple crown” winner in 2004, scooping up Tony Awards® for Best Musical, Best Book, and Best Score), Avenue Q is sending Cape audiences home with smiles and snippets of song that linger long after the curtain has come down.

I can’t say enough positive things about this production. Everyone in the cast is outstanding. The music is amazing. The puppets are delightful. The script is laugh-so-hard-your-belly-will-hurt funny. It’s hard to find anything to criticize … and I’m generally pretty good at that!

Welcome to Avenue Q

Avenue Q is a neighborhood that’s way, way uptown, where the rent is low and the neighbors bizarre. Princeton, the protagonist, has just graduated with a B.A. in English—an academic background that usually prepares one for a career saying, “Do you want fries with that?”

On a quest to find purpose in his life, Princeton’s search leads him into the arms of two very different women, while examining the important issues in life though songs like It Sucks to Be Me and Everybody’s a Little Bit Racist.

At Avenue Q, Princeton finds an apartment in a building where the super is Gary Coleman (“yes, that Gary Coleman”). His neighbors include Brian and his fiancée, Christmas Tree (she’s Japanese); Trekkie; and the lovely and innocent kindergarten assistant teacher, Kate Monster.

Don’t think for a moment that life on Avenue Q is dull, because whenever it threatens to become so, up pops the Bad Idea Bears to stir things up a little. (I think that from time to time they’ve also come to live at my house.)

Kudos to the cast (and their puppet alter-egos)

Morgan West, last seen at the Rep in The Drowsy Chaperone, has the clean-cut good looks that make him a perfect Princeton. Andrew Ford brings just the right mixture of yearning and resignation to the role of Brian, while Jessica Albon’s Kate is vulnerable and brave.

Both Albon and Kato Kitano—who plays Christmas Tree—are able to belt out songs that leave goose bumps on your arms.

Holly Erin McCarthy and Jared Hagan are absolutely amazing—there’s no other word for it—both for their own acting and that of their myriad puppet characters, while Darlene Van Alstyne brings just the right mixture of sweetness and attitude to her role, played out in Gary Coleman’s orange jumpsuit.

Puppets? Did somebody say puppets? Yes, nearly all of the characters have Muppet-like alter egos, but don’t for a moment expect Sesame Street banter: this is not a show for children. The repertoire of songs include The Internet is for Porn, If You Were Gay, and You Can Be as Loud as the Hell You Want When You’re Makin’ Love.

Jim Henson is rolling over in his grave.

If you go...

Avenue Q shows are rapidly selling out, so be sure to reserve your tickets ($30-35) in advance!

Cape Rep Theatre

3299 Route 6A, Brewster

(508) 896.1888

Playing November 3 through December 4 (no shows November 23 or 24)

Wednesdays at 7 PM, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 2 PM

Not for children