Review: AVENUE Q at Seacoast Repertory Theater

It is incredibly rare to sit in a theater and watch something fresh, unforced and entirely creative, but that is just what Seacoast Repertory Theater has done with their staging of Avenue Q.

The Rep's newest production is a story about twenty and thirty-somethings muddling their way through adulthood in Brooklyn.

The show originally opened in New York City in 2003 and went on to beat a little known show that year for Best Musical at the Tony Awards, Wicked. It was always described as the little show that could, and in this restaging it still delivers.

Directors and designers Brandon Mallard and Ben Hart decided to reimagine this classic piece of American Musical Theater for this production. Retellings can be dicey in so many ways, especially for Tony Award winning musicals. The audience can have a certain way they are expecting the story to be presented, the execution can flop fantastically, or the vision itself can prove to be lacking. Not for this production. In addition the original show is dated with 2003 references throughout, but in this production there is new life and new references to make it all feel so fresh and exciting.

For starters, the set is beautifully constructed out of recycled materials to portray a block right out of one of Brooklyn's neighborhoods like Bushwick, Bedstuy or maybe even Ridgewood. The detail is considered throughout. There are so many things for one to discover on the set and possibly won't discover until well into the second act.

The puppets are truly an act of genius. During the curtain speech for opening night, it was quoted that there are 100 puppets being used. Each puppet was hand designed by Hart and Mallard. They all make the set come to life in a real Jim Henson-esque way, completely different than the original staging. The intricacy of each puppet shines throughout and seamlessly works together with the humans operating them. At one point on the set it was even difficult to tell which was a puppet and which was a human. All of the puppets make the set spring to life vibrantly and the show buzzes and hums with careful nuance because of it.

The humans in this show are also giving life to the work in their own acts of genius. There is not one bad actor in the entire show, and that alone is a rarity. Every single member of the company is doing a stand up job with their own story lines.

Jason Faria plays the young hopeful, Princeton. He works simply with Princeton, and that allows the show a great jumping off point.

It is Faria's love interest, Jen Mallard who has rethought Kate Monster is a very smart way. Her portrayal of Kate is new, inventive and incredibly useful for the plot. Mallard also plays the character to her strengths vocally, which allows her to radiate through some showstopping numbers.

Jamie Bradley plays Brian, an unemployed thirty-something with a dead-end comedy job. Bradley makes Brian loveable and lands the non-comedic comedy beautifully. His soon-to-be-wife Christmas Eve is played by Remina Nishida.

Nishida is a standout talent as Christmas Eve. Her deadpan line delivery is spot-on and then to top it off, her voice soars in the second act. In fact, her second act song is one of the highlights of the entire show.

Chris Bradley plays the neurotic and closeted Rod who is secretly in love with his roommate Nicky, played by Ben Hart and Noah Lefebvre. Both puppets exude the Bert and Ernie friendship, but in a much more adult manner. Chris Bradley is a must-see talent in any production, but this role may be his best to date. His voice is strong and impressive, and his comedy is consistent, smart and present. He also has a heartbreaking moment at the end of the first act, in which the entire audience responded so strongly.

Similarly Ben Hart and Noah Lefebvre handle Nicky and all of his scenes very well. Lefebvre is especially interesting to watch, because he is the left side of a couple puppets. His characterizations are mesmerizing and it is truly amazing how easily he slips into working with other people to embody one puppet.

Shaina Schwartz fills out the iconic Gary Coleman role in the cast. Gary Coleman is at the point of his career where he is serving as the superintendent for this very building. Her standout moment is a technical and fast tap routine. This is something that is new to this production of the show and was not in the original staging, but it fit. It also allows her character to explore a new dimension of what a superintendent of a building oversees.

Jennifer Henry plays Lucy The Slut and she plays it cunningly. She effortlessly makes a puppet morph into a sultry sexpot. Also, Henry's voice on her belty cabaret song, "Special" is nothing short of jawdropping.

Jonathan Lessard takes on the role of Trekkie Monster with ease as well. This character is more Oscar the Grouch inspired, and Lessard plays it perfectly. He is detailed in his mannerisms with a large bulky puppet. More so, he is fantastic at his song, "The Internet is For Porn" and it will absolutely stick in your head for weeks to come.

Rounding out the cast are the two Bad Idea Bears played by Erica Skoglund and Bartley Mullin. These two thicken the plot with their added twists and turns. Both Skoglund and Mullin handle their bears with finesse and crafty gestures. As a team they work seamlessly, but they also shine as individuals throughout.

It should also be said that the entire cast also fills out all of the creatures and other people onstage, at all times. Again, this cast of 12 is handling 100 puppets and that is an enormous feet they execute with expert care.

Avenue Q runs at the Seacoast Repertory Theater from August 14th- September 13th and it is not to be missed. This show is the gem of the year.

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