“AVENUE Q” is making a welcomed return to the Coachella Valley with the Revolution Stage Company’s excellent production of the Tony Award winning musical.
Often described as “Sesame Street for Adults,” this hilarious and clever musical by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx has a cast which is a mix of puppets and actors. The puppeteers are always fully visible, but they do their work so wonderfully that you soon forget that they are even there as their puppets take on a life of their own.
Steve Giboney, Phylicia Mason, Sam Moffatt, Kelly McDaniel, Joseph Portoles 
Steve Giboney, Patrick Wallace, Christine Michele, Phylicia Mason, Alisha Bates 
Phylicia Mason, Patrick Wallace 
Phylicia Mason, Miguel Arballo 
Patrick Wallace, Phylicia Mason, Jana Giboney, Steve Giboney, Alisha Bates, Miguel Arballo 
Patrick Wallace, Alisha Bates, Sam Moffatt, Christine Michele, Kelly McDaniel.Joseph Portoles, Phylicia Mason, Steve Giboney 
Kelly McDaniel, Patrick Wallace, Sam Moffatt 
Kelly McDaniel, Alisha Bates., Joseph Portoles
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the show, it centers on a recent college grad named Princeton (Patrick Wallace), who is wondering what to do with his “useless” degree in English and trying to find his purpose in life. With limited funds and in need of a place to stay, he finds himself an apartment on the much less posh but much more affordable Avenue Q. That the apartment’s superintendent happens to be TV’s Gary Coleman (Alisha Bates), yes that Gary Coleman, doesn’t seem to be a bit out place with any of the building’s collection of other eccentric residents. Kate Monster (Phylicia Mason) yearns to open a school for other monsters and develops a fast crush on Princeton. There’s Brian (Steve Giboney), an unemployed wannabe stand-up comic and his heavily accented Japanese wife named Christmas Eve (Christine Michele) who is the source of many non-pc but very funny jokes. Another apartment is home to a pair of roomies, Nicky (Joseph Portoles) and Rod (Samuel Moffatt)), one straight and one gay but still closeted. They immediately remind one of Sesame Street’s Bert & Ernie. Also in residence is Trekkie Monster (Miguel Arballo) who, more than anything, loves internet porn. Additionally there are some very funny characters with whom the residents interact. These include Lucy the Slut (Jana Giboney) and the Bad Idea Bears (Joseph Portoles & Kelly McDaniel).
The show breaks every rule of what is considered politically correct these days but always shows a warm heart and never crosses the line into being mean. It is truly an equal-opportunity insulter but does so with a wink and a smile.
Despite the small stage, James Owens’ direction keeps the show moving at just the right pace and gets the most out of his very talented cast. Each has his or her moment to shine, making it a truly ensemble cast and a very talented one at that. For the most part, the score is bright and upbeat with sharp and funny lyrics. There is also one very moving ballad called “There’s a Fine, Fine Line” which is touchingly sung by Ms. Mason.
So, if the idea of watching puppets have sex makes you giggle instead of making you gag or scream out TMI, then do yourself a favor and grab a ticket for a fun, belly-laugh filled evening in the theatre.
AVENUE Q is at the Revolution Stage Company’s recently acquired new home, a few doors away from REVIVALS on S. Palm Canyon and runs every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday through January 25, 2024. For tickets or further information visit their website, www.revolutionstagecompany.com.