’All roads lead to Avenue Q’ goes the tagline for the Tony award-winning musical. It was no different when on Monday, 28th of June, all roads led to the Wyndham’s Theatre, Charing Cross Road, for the musical’s 4th anniversary bash!

Avenue Q found its way from Broadway to the West End back in 2006 and has since build into a solid hit. Originally conceived by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, who wrote the music and lyrics, the show is a quirky concept involving puppets that resemble various Sesame Street characters, as well as actors/singers who operate them. The performers are fully visible to the audience and some are dressed in neutral-coloured garb to avoid upstaging the puppets.

The story takes place in the present and the cleverly designed set is meant to resemble some tenements in a downmarket street located in an outer borough of NY-City. Sesame Street-style video clips are additionally applied to emphasize the story, which begins with Princeton (Paul Spicer), a recent college graduate looking for an affordable apartment, as well as his purpose in life. Thus, the audience is treated to the first song, titled ‘What Do You Do With a BA in English?’ Gradually, the various residents of Avenue Q appear, like Kate Monster (Cassidy Janson), an assistant Kindergarten teacher who has aspirations to open her own school for monsters one day. Other characters include Christmas Eve (Jacqueline Tate), a Japanese-American lady reduced to work as a waitress in a Chinese restaurant, roommates Nicky and Rod (Tom Parsons/Alan Pearson) as well as Brian (Sion Lloyd), an unemployed comedian.

The incredibly funny dialogue and songs are spiked with an ironic, adult sense of humour that deals with everyday issues like love, work and money (or the lack of it, rather). It also deals with more ‘taboo’ issues like racism (‘Everyone’s A Little Bit Racist’), pornography (‘The Internet Is For Porn’) and sexuality (‘If You Were Gay’). Frequently, main plot and sub-plots satirize the fears of entering adulthood with hilarious one-liners like “Please don’t let me end up working in Starbucks.” To emphasize life’s fears and disillusions, we are introduced to yet another (non-puppet) character, namely the (recently deceased) former child star Gary Coleman (Delroy Atkinson). Here, he is a grown-up reduced to being an apartment-complex superintendent and is further parodied with the song ‘It Sucks To Be Me’. Three of the shows’ puppet characters are also direct parodies, naturally of Sesame Street puppets. Cookie Monster has become porn addict Trekkie Monster, while roommates Rod and Nicky are based on Bert and Ernie.

That’s the avenue action in a nutshell. Any further description of additional characters would give too much of the plot away and really, there is so much more going on in these tenements. All the talent (including the live-musicians) are an absolute joy to watch and listen to. Avenue Q – skilfully directed by Jason Moore - is a fun night out for anyone who appreciates brashness, wit and slightly unusual entertainment.

After the show, the cast took to the stage again to let the audience know that this was a very special day and performance, for it was the show’s 4th anniversary. A huge birthday cake – carried by two members of staff and decorated with the face of Rod (one of the puppet characters) - was displayed for everyone to see. Yes, a birthday cake received applause!
The announcement was followed by a special after-party in the venue’s hospitality room, during which cast and VIP-guests were treated to gallons of wine and an opportunity to greet the puppets. One of the special guests was TV-presenter and fashion consultant Gok Wan; a personality I have always admired. I couldn’t resist playing a little prank by asking him a specific vanity-related question, seemingly to his dismay. His startled expression and reply that he won’t answer since he is neither psychic nor the Dalai Lama gave way to an amused smile after I revealed my question was merely a joke and what I really like to know is how he enjoyed the evening’s performance. Enthusiastically, the fabulous Gok told me that he’s seen the musical twice already and thinks of the show as brilliant and wonderful. Obviously a man with great taste, not to mention a great sense of humour.

Despite the lack of air conditioning (!) on one of the hottest days of the year, everyone had a fantastic time and swiftly replaced lost body fluids with wine. I hereby raise another glass to this outstanding production, and long may it run.