The title says it all. This show from Taiwan is a lot of fun. The five cast members bring this new show to life on stage. It was fitting on International Women’s Day to see this cast of five women show the acting prowess coming out of Taiwan.
As we enter the venue, we are greeted by the cast in the audience space, making rhythmic sounds and movement. The house lights go out, and the cast moves straight onto the stage and into their first song. And from this first song, the audience is captivated. We know we are in for a good night of musical theatre.
The story is simple yet beautiful. It revolves around an email written 10 years previously. This then causes the five friends to have a reunion. Not a traditional reunion, but one at their old childhood hideout. This causes a range of childhood memories as they embark on playing some of their favourite games. Long-forgotten memories are released whilst playing the games. The audience participates by spinning a chocolate wheel to pick games. We have hopscotch, skip rope, and kick the can. As they play these games, it stirs their memories of gentler times.
And how, now, 10 years later, life has changed. It is more complex. The joys of childhood have faded. But the games do, in fact, strengthen their friendships, and they vow to meet again. It shows how important our early friendships are in our lives. We need to cherish these memories and friendships as they shape us for adulthood.
The choreography and musical pieces significantly enhance the narrative. The music includes elements of traditional Taiwanese musical instruments and rhythms. Chien-Lin Chen wrote the music, and Cindy Chen choreographed. The costumes are based on what children would have worn, with adult elements.
The venue is a little on the echoey side for a musical, but the audio team and cast coped well, and the mixing was clean and crisp. The lighting was a little on the turn on lights to see, until the end when colour was introduced. This colour element helps reinforce the strengthening of their friendships and a brighter future.
This cast works well as an ensemble. The natural acting style makes it very believable. The cast consists of Hsaio Lu, Zhao Zhao, Cynthia Yang, A Hsin, and Pei Chi. The cast is directed by Qiu-Yi-Bao Lai. He has a great sense of the story being told. This is a worthwhile show to see, so keep an eye open for it.
Lots of prior guessing what this show would give to an 18+ adults-only with ‘puppets behaving badly’ …. I had never seen it before nor heard of it, yet in Broadway history it beat out Wicked, how was that possible? This is puppets looking similar to those you’d see on Sesame Street! Mind you, they definitely don’t have the same vocabulary.
Get ready to LAUGH!!! I’m not actually a huge fan of explicit content and sexual innuendos in shows, hence a lot of stand-up comedy nowdays doesn’t entice me, but this was a musical, so I couldn’t possibly not go. I got good seats and took my hubby (driving in he asked me what it was and when I said from the information I had it was like an adult version of Muppets, I think he stopped far longer at the red light than needed, hmmm….).
There’s no hiding explicit content and sexual innuendos in Avenue Q, they are in nearly every scene, but as its expressed from puppets I thought it was very FUNNY and even more CLEVER!
Something I’d never think we would hear about in a musical was open loud reference to ‘porn’. With a whole comical song on the topic, the audience were in stitches and the guys sitting in front of us were almost rolling out of their seats. You’ll have to go experience that part as I don’t want to conjure up anything not quite accurate here – I was also laughing so much at the huge porn-loving puppet I probably lacked concentration whilst watching. I don’t know how the actors on stage with him practiced at rehearsals, but I’ll bet it was nothing like anything they’d done before.
Talented and adaptable is an understatement of this cast. To be able to hold a puppet and portray a character isn’t something I imagine many performers could pull off with the kind of confidence and interaction they do, but especially to sing and move in conjunction with another actor holding the adjoining arm of the same puppet; their timing was spot on!
There are non-puppet characters too – a hoot is “Gary Coleman” in a parody of the real-life child star with the same name; he’s the ‘maintenance man’ of the apartments on Avenue Q where hopefuls, lovers and friends live their ordinary lives in New York city. Having grown up with that child star on my TV, his lines made perfect sense to me for a bit of a giggle.
‘Sucks To Be Me’ was my favourite scene, because everyone thinks that of themselves at some time in their lives, but let’s be honest, there’s always someone worse off than you are. The show has many messages of a similar tongue-in-cheek nature, however the underlying theme is a timeless story of not giving up hope (that’s like Sesame Street HAHA).
Funnily, you may want to close your eyes or look away occasionally or you might find yourself staring jaw-dropped at the stage figuring it all out. It’s a sexy romp of puppetry at times and just super cool fun at others, songs with catchy tunes and notes with punch – a sing out to Cassie Ogle playing vixen ‘Lucy’, what a voice!
If you are thinking that you don’t like the sound of possibly ‘sex obsessed’ puppets on stage, it’s really not too over the top (Avenue Q is from the 2000s and we didn’t do overly confronting back then). You could go with your mother-in-law, but a group of friends would absolutely have one hilarious night out to remember.
Another thing about ‘AG Theatre’ productions that stands out for me is the atmosphere they create in the foyer pre and post show. You can take photos on their backdrop board (with the puppets) and pin those all over your social media to puzzle your friends not lucky enough to go along.
Avenue Q is a must-see, and if you’re into going out in theme, wear your wigs and puppet ears (you won’t the only one). The show has just been extended to play at the National Theatre in St Kilda until 22 March 2025. Tickets via https://agtheatre.com.au/avenueq/
This was one comedy I loved, thank you for a very fun night.
Congratulations everyone!
CAST: Princeton: Harley Dasey Kate Monster: Zoe Crisp Nicky & Trekkie: Andrew McDougall Rod: Jonathon Shilling Lucy & Mrs T: Cassie Ogle Bad Idea Bear & Puppeteer: Perri Espinoza Bad Idea Bear: Darcy Harriss Brian: Matthew Tomlin Xmas Eve: Chiew-Jin Khut Gary Coleman: Stephanie Lacerna Swings: Liimei Lim, Jake Lonergan
Production Team: Executive Producer: Andrew Gyopar Director: Pip Mushin Music Director: Alexandra Byrne Choreographer & Assistant Director: Adriana Pannuzzo Production Design: Abbey Stanway Costume Design: Karen Spencer Puppet Design & Creation: Andrew McDougall Graphic Design: Jett Archer
AVENUE Q Music & Lyrics by Jeff Marx & Robert Lopez Book by Jeff Whitty Licensed exclusively by Music Theatre International (Australasia)
MARVELous at the Adelaide Festival Fringe is an ambitious, high-energy, and BIG production that showcases the incredible talents of a remarkably athletic ten-member cast performing impressive aerial stunts, live vocals, and raunchy dance routines with technical proficiency.
This risqué parody aims to combine superheroes from the Marvel Cinematic Universe with musical theatre and film – a considerable stretch; however, the MARVELous company achieve this feat with ease.
Integrating these seemingly disconnected theatrical phenomena begins with a musical number reminiscent of a Las Vegas cabaret show that quickly turns the cheesy appeal of this style of theatre into a satirical spoof. Deadpool, in his inimatable style, narrates the twists and turns of an adult only bedtime story as only he can!
The industrial styled setting is impressive as the performers own the stage, transforming familiar musicals such as Dirty Dancing, Magic Mike, Wicked, Flashdance, The Greatest Showman and Hamilton into spectacular and hilarious routines.
The audience is bombarded with satirical references to the associated Hollywood stars, generating genuine spontaneous laughter as the cast’s delivery packs just the right amount of punch.
Cohesively integrated into this raunchy bedtime tale was the lighting, laser, and smoke effects complimented by an atmospheric rock-infused soundtrack, all topped off by eye-catching costumes that had just the right amount of tear away pants and sassy tongue in cheek nudity choreographed into entertaining dance routines.
MARVELous is a witty, clever and fun night out – with or without an insight into the Marvel Universe this risqué and comedic parody is great entertainment and a really good belly laugh!
Well, this is an interesting, fun show. It’s comedy clowning at its best. It’s a rollicking, frolicking comedy about fruit, its position in society, and its relevance to the main character, Cherese.
We learn why fruit is fun, why she loves all fruit, and why she also loves us, the audience. The show consists of a variety of sketches that flow smoothly from one to another.
For Cherese Sonkkila, this is her debut Fringe show. She has plenty of energy, and it keeps flowing. Hopefully, we will see more work from she/her in the future.
The sketches have a variety of styles, from song and dance to monologues. There are costume changes off stage, although in a couple of places, the performances are a fraction too long. But it was opening night.
This is a show worth seeing. It is a fun event with some audience participation, which I normally don’t like, but I enjoyed it. So, get a ticket or several and take yourself to the Mill on Angas Street.
