arts
Avenue Q review
Shaftesbury theatre, LondonTwenty years since its West End debut, the sweetly subversive musical returns with a few tweaks and a lot of heart
TL;DR
- Avenue Q, a musical by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, returns to the West End 20 years after its initial success.
- The show features puppets and humans dealing with adult themes like sex, racism, and existentialism, presented with humor and subversiveness.
- Key characters include Princeton, Kate Monster, Christmas Eve, Gary, Rod, Nicky, and Trekkie Monster.
- Songs like 'If You Were Gay', 'Everyone's a Little Bit Racist', and 'The Internet Is for Porn' address taboo subjects.
- The production, directed by Jason Moore, is praised for its cast's physical and vocal performances.
- Jeff Whitty's book has been updated with references to AI, OnlyFans, and Spotify.
- The musical offers escapism with a hopeful ending, acknowledging that troubles are temporary.