Through special arrangements with Music Theatre International, Theatre UNI brings the 2004 Tony Award-winner for Best Musical, “Avenue Q” to Strayer-Wood Theatre.
Fresh out of college with bills to pay and a B.A. in English, puppet Princeton (played by Mic Evans, junior theatre major) rents an affordable apartment on Avenue Q where he befriends humans and puppets alike. A satire of “Sesame Street” and its rosy lessons, the tenets of Avenue Q are forced to face the inauspicious struggles of adult life.
While lacking a solid story save Princeton’s search for his nebulous purpose, “Avenue Q” is a hodgepodge of sassy songs about sexual orientation, race, pornography, sexual expression and other thoughtfully spun subjects linked together by the experiences of the colorful cast of characters who sing them.
Yet these kooky characters are nothing without highly skilled actors to play them (especially the ten puppet characters who require their actor to act, sing and puppeteer simultaneously), and the cast absolutely delivers:
Evans proves that he will never cease to amaze, adding another talent to his extensive repertoire: Broadway belting. He’s a perfect fit as naïve and curious Princeton, gasping and guffawing at the crazy world around him.
Cody Hoien, senior theatre major, is hysterical as the relatively minor Trekkie Monster who spends most of his time interrupting whatever is going on to yell about porn.
The stunningly gorgeous Lauren VanSpeybroeck, freshman TESOL/Spanish major, saunters onto stage as the over-the-top Lucy the Slut, mesmerizing everyone with her sexy charm.
Derrick Bertram, senior theatre major, is the perfect balance as roommate Nicky to sophomore theatre major Sam Wiegers’ performance of Rod, a Republican banker who is desperate to hide that he wants a boyfriend. Wiegers is by far the most impressive puppeteer of the cast, and he balances the goofiness of Rod’s antics with the softness of his desires so seamlessly that it splits sides and breaks hearts.
On the technical side of things, Theatre UNI’s production of “Avenue Q” is faultless. Assistant theatre professor Matthew Weedman’s direction is fantastic, and music professor Rebecca Burkhardt’s musical direction is splendid. Associate theatre professor Mark Parrott and assistant theatre professor Jennifer Sheshko Wood’s puppet designs are carefully crafted and detailed, and senior theatre major Jennifer Hampton’s choreography is quirky fun.
Long story short, “Avenue Q” is a hilarious, one-of-a-kind romp performed by an amazing cast with laudable direction and design.
You should seriously go see it.
“Avenue Q” continues March 5-7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Strayer-Wood Theatre. Tickets can be bought online and at the Strayer-Wood box office.
