Don't let the posters with adorable puppets confuse you; despite many similarities in format, Avenue Q is definitely not Seasame Street. This hilarious musical play is definitely geared to an adult audience, so find a babysitter before you head into Grand Rapids to enjoy the most recent offering at the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre.
While many people associate the Civic Theatre with family-friendly productions, the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre prides itself on presenting a wide range of theatrical content. This year alone, the shows being offered range from very family-friendly plays such as Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day to this run of Avenue Q, which is a far cry from child-oriented.
Avenue Q is a wild, hilarious musical play, written by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, based on the book written by Jeff Whitty. It actually won what theatre buffs call the Tony Triple Crown: Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Book in 2004. The play has had a long tenure in the Big Apple, and it has a strong fan base. Like Seasame Street, the cast is a combination of three human actors and eleven puppets. The story follows a recent college graduate, named Princeton, as he ventures out into the real world in New York City. He ends up living in a small apartment on Avenue Q, where he meets a cast of strange and funny characters and learns a lot about life.
Some of the songs from this popular show include "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist" and the universally popular "The Internet is for Porn." This play is not for those who are easily offended and is certainly not appropriate for small children. For those who can enjoy some subversive humor about sex, alcohol, and growing up, however, Avenue Q will likely be an enjoyable and memorable experience. And yes, be forewarned, that there is not only a sexy song and dance number featuring a supporting puppet character, there is also a sex scene involving two of the main puppet characters. Those easily offended may not enjoy Avenue Q, but those who aren't will likely find the risque humor and cultural insight delightful. There's little question that the songs are catchy and the overall story is one of personal growth and finding one's place in a vast, confusing world.
Its run at the Civic Theatre officially begins tonight (May 29th, 2015) with a showtime of 7:30 pm. There will also be 7:30 pm evening shows on May30th, June 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th. There are also daytime shows on Sundays, which begin at 2:00 pm. Sunday shows will be performed on May 31st, June 7th, and June 14th. Tickets range in cost from $18-$33 per seat, and there were still tickets available for tonight's opening show at the time that this post was published. Tickets can be purchased via Facebook or via the Civic Theatre's website. Leave the kids at home, and come ready to laugh at some ridiculous puppet antics.