BWW Reviews: AVENUE Q at Austin Theatre Project is Raunchy & Riotous

This review is brought to you by the letter "F," as in "F***ING FANTASTIC!" and "If you don't see this show, you FAIL at life."

Austin Theater Project's hysterical production of Avenue Q-the hit Broadway musical which beat out Wicked to win the Tony Awards triple crown of Best Book, Best Score, and Best Musical-is sure to be a must see event of the Austin summer season. Though while the show involves cute Jim Henson-esque puppets, leave the kids at home. We're not in Sesame Street anymore.

The witty and often crude social satire, featuring music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx and a book by Jeff Whitty, parodies Sesame Street in order to tell us that the T.V. shows we watched as a kid left one important thing out: adulthood sucks! The characters, whether they be of the human or puppet variety, all struggle with personal relationships, sexuality, and finding fulfillment at work (and in some cases finding work at all). Though the themes may be of a darker hue (throw in drugs and HIV and you've basically got Rent), they're dealt with in such a humorous and ironic way that the entire evening remains optimistic and upbeat.

Director Marco Bazan brings out the humor of the musical with ease and effortlessness. Every beat and moment is punctuated with a laugh, and yet it never appears as if Bazan and his cast are trying to give us the guffaw induced asthma attacks that they produce. Musical Director David Blackburn ensures that the happy-go-lucky score has never sounded better, and the set (also by David Blackburn) is a slightly scaled down and modified version of the trio of tenement buildings shown in the original production and on tour.

Bazan has also assembled a cast of some of the best actors, singers, and comedians that Austin has to offer. As recent college grad Princeton, Isaac Arrieta is pleasantly earnest, likeable, and charmingly naïve with a splendid voice to boot. Matthew Charles Burnett is great in his dual role as the sullen, closeted homosexual Rod and the deviously cute Bad Idea Bear, and Eric Meo gets plenty of well-deserved laughs as he oscillates between the roles of Nicky, Rod's loveable roommate, and the porn-obsessed Trekkie Monster.

As great as the guys are, the women in the cast are slightly more memorable. As Princeton's love interest, Kate Monster, Marett Hanes proves to be a fantastic leading lady. Hanes turns Kate into a sweet, monster-next-door ingénue with a great set of pipes. Michelle Alexander's take on Gary Coleman (yes, THAT Gary Coleman) is dry, sarcastic, and full of attitude, and her blaring take on the tune "Loud as the Hell You Want" is hysterical to watch. And as Christmas Eve, the street's token Asian resident, June Julian is an attention hog in the best of ways. She nails every joke and song with ease, and you can't take your eyes off her.

With its exceptional cast and crew, Avenue Q is a game changer for Austin Theatre Project. While previous productions from ATP have been great, this one is in a class of its own and raises the bar for Austin regional theaters. While the characters in Avenue Q eventually realize that their problems are only "for now," this production suggests that Austin Theatre Project's impact on the local theater scene is just beginning.

Running time: 2 hours and 15 minutes, including one 15 minute intermission. NOTE: Recommended for mature audiences only.

AVENUE Q, produced by Austin Theatre Project, plays the Dougherty Arts Center at 1110 Barton Springs Road, Austin 78704 now thru June 16th. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 3pm. Tickets are $20-$30. For tickets and information, visit www.austintheatreproject.org

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