'Avenue Q' echoes a familiar address
I arrived at "Avenue Q" a skeptic and left a convert.
The wildly successful puppet musical, conceived by composer/lyricists Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, had gimmick written all over it.
It concerns a group of mostly twentysomething New Yorkers living along the fictional Avenue Q, a slightly shabby bohemian neighborhood that welcomes eccentrics. The Tony Award-winning show, whose long-overdue Chicago premiere took place Wednesday at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, follows its quirky hipsters as they negotiate quarter-life crises involving relationships, sexuality, money and (mostly unsuccessful) careers.
The thing is, not all the characters are people. Most of the principals are brightly colored, oversize hand puppets manipulated by a cast of very visible singer/actor/puppeteers.
"Rent" with puppets, you're thinking. I thought so, too. Actually, the show unfolds as an adult version of "Sesame Street" -- to which it has no affiliation save for a sly and loving tip of the hat -- and not just in the same-sex roommates and gluttonous neighbor who recall their more familiar PBS counterparts.
The surprisingly irresistible "Avenue Q" imparts life lessons to beleaguered young adults the way the show that inspired it teaches reading and math to youngsters: with up-tempo tunes and playful language. The colors are bright; the sentiment sincere, the satire gentle and the streetscape (ingeniously evoked by set designer Anna Louizos who does a brilliant job conjuring the Chrysler Building) charming.
It delivers its aphorisms in exuberant tunes like "It's OK If You're Gay," "The Internet Is For Porn" and "Everyone's a Little Racist" (deliciously candid and decidedly un P.C.). Wry lyrics outweigh innocuous melodies in this show, whose meandering plot is made tolerable by book writer Jeff Whitty's funny, perceptive dialogue.
Director Jason Moore seamlessly integrates puppets and people, a job made easier by a remarkably talented cast.
The wonderfully expressive Robert McClure is terrific as unemployed college grad Princeton, who moves to the neighborhood and begins a romance with kindergarten aid Kate Monster (the equally impressive and versatile Kelli Sawyer), who hopes to open a school for "children of fur." David Benoit plays good-hearted slacker Nicky, best friend and roommate of the uptight Rod (McClure). Angela Ai plays Christmas Eve, one of the show's two human characters, who's engaged to failed stand-up comic Brian (the indisposed Cole Porter who was replaced at intermission by understudy Cullen R. Titmas); Carla Renata is former child star Gary Coleman, the neighborhood super. Rounding out the cast is Minglie Chen. The essence of a utility player, Chen takes on several parts, including one half of the Bad Idea Bears who tempt Princeton and Kate into actions they regret.
This show's gimmick grabbed my attention, but the grin the inventive "Avenue Q" put on my face had less to do with puppets than with its big heart and sly spirit.
"Avenue Q"
3 1/2 stars
out of four
Location: Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago
Times: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday; through June 7
Running Time: About 2 hours, 10 minutes with intermission
Tickets: $25- $75
Parking: Paid lots nearby
Box office: (312) 902-1400 or broadwayinchicago.com
Rating: For adults, contains strong language; sexual content