Review: AVENUE Q at Providence Performing Arts Center

If Sesame Street and Rent were a same-sex couple and they had a baby, that baby would be Avenue Q.

The story follows a group of young bohemian friends as they find their way in life in New York City.  There is Princeton (Brent Michael DiRoma) a puppet human, who is fresh out of college and looking for his purpose.  Low on funds, he stumbles upon a run-down apartment building, managed by former child star Gary Coleman (Nigel Jamaal Clark), who trumps all in the number “It Sucks to be Me”.  Immediately after finding his first grown-up apartment, Princeton gains another notch in the belt of adulthood: his first lay off.

Fortunately, Princeton finds a group of supportive friends in his new building.  There is Christmas Eve (Lisa Helmi Johanson), an over-educated and unemployed therapist, who is engaged to Brian (Tim Kornblum) a stoner and would-be stand up comedian.  Both of these characters are non-puppet humans.

Their neighbors are Rod (also Brent Michael DiRoma), a closeted gay, Republican, investment banker, and his slacker roommate Nicky (Jason Heymann). Nicky is also the focus of Rod’s unrequited love. These characters are puppet humans as well.

Taking the top floor of the walk up tenement is the reclusive Trekkie Monster (also Jason Heymann) who teaches us one of life’s simple truths:  ‘The Internet is for Porn’.

The person in the building who will change Princeton's life is Kate Monster (Jaqueline Grabois).  Kate Monster is a kindergarten teacher’s assistant, who wants, more than anything, to build a school for monsters.  A place where all monsters are treated with respect and not ridiculed for how they were born: a Hetrick-Martin Institute for monsters.  Kate and Princeton have a rocky on again, off again romance that is sadly for them, mostly off.

After months of feeling like a failure in life and love, Princeton has an epiphany. He will help raise the money for Kate’s monster school. In giving to others, Princeton has found his reason for living.

This life lesson is brought to you by the letter “P” for “Purpose” and by the letter “C” for “Commitment”.

Avenue Q’s book is by Jeff Whitty and is based on the original concept by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, who also wrote the infinitely catchy music and lyrics.  From the title number right through the finale, Lopez and Marx have created brilliant little vignette pieces that are as universal as they are politically incorrect. The numbers include “What Do You Do with a B.A in English”, “Everyone is a Little Bit Racist” and the above-mentioned “The Internet is for Porn” The story is charming, but certainly has an urban, youth, edge. (Puppet sex, anyone?) 

The talented cast makes the intricate choreography and sleight-of-hand puppetry look seamless.  They are also superb mimics.  For fans of Avenue Q who listen to the soundtrack regularly (guilty!), there is very little space between the voices on the recording to the voices you will hear live.  Often this technique backfires, but in the puppet world, it works very well.

Avenue Q plays at the Providence Performing Arts Center through October 25^th.  Tickets range from $41 -$63 and can be purchased at the Box Office, located at 220 Weybosset St., Providence, RI, by phone at (401) 421- ARTS or online at www.ppacri.org.

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