Avenue Q at the Buxton Opera House Review
Avenue Q
Buxton Opera House
19-21 June 2014
Reviewed by Debbie Tasker
I had heard great things about Avenue Q so I was really looking forward to seeing it at Buxton Opera House last night. With the revival of The Muppets Show on BBC1 last year bringing them back into the limelight it seemed an excellent time to see for myself what the fuss is about. I wasn’t disappointed! From start to finish it had me grinning from ear to ear and lived up to its rave reviews.
We travelled from Manchester and the journey was around 50 minutes. The theatre is situated in a quaint village like setting with Botanical Gardens and a beautiful park next door. Within a stone’s throw are a few bars and pubs so you could easily spend an afternoon exploring the area before your show.
Buxton Opera House itself is absolutely stunning. With original features and fittings superbly preserved it really is one of the most amazing theatres I have visited. Staff are on hand to help around the building. I found them all very polite and welcoming happy to assist when needed. It is quite a small venue but at no time did it feel overcrowded and has a lovely intimate feel. All areas are clean and well lit. Prices are reasonable.
Avenue Q is basically an adult Sesame Street. The shock value will have you gasping and laughing out loud throughout.
College graduate Princeton arrives on Avenue Q to live in a shabby apartment when he realises he can’t afford Avenue A – P. He soon meets his new neighbours who are a motley crew of monsters (cute ones though) and humans including a porn obsessed monster, the delightful Kate, Oriental Christmas Eve and Gary Coleman.
The show is full of controversial songs ‘You Can Be As Loud As The Hell You Want (When Your Makin’ Love)’ was my absolute favourite, the scene had me in hysterics, I won’t spoil it by saying too much but think of two muppets and many positions. You will get the jist! Other songs include ‘Everyone’s A Little Bit Racist’, ‘If You Were Gay’ and ‘The Internet Is For Porn’ amongst others. The cast throw themselves into the puppet characters and are visible throughout. At first it was hard to not look at them instead of the puppets but they soon morph into one. The whole cast have immense talent. If I had to pick a stand out performance it would be Lucie Mae Sumner who was Kate Monster and Lucy the Slut. She threw herself into the puppet characters without reservation and has a brilliant singing voice. The Bad Idea Bears were another winner with me, those little voices in your head that persistently suggest bad ideas that you gladly agree to, I could relate to these personally!
The first half is most certainly the best and fasted paced. It slows down for the second act.
We had an awesome night watching the colourful puppets and their humans perform catchy tunes and hilarious one liners. The Sesame Street style videos on TV screens placed at the sides of the stage added to the fun factor and had me giggling many times.
There are also a few lessons in life for us adults hidden in there which can only be a good thing.
If you are easily offended then I would say this is not one for you. But if you want a quick witted, risqué fun filled night get your tickets booked and get ready to laugh your socks off.
Rating: 5/5 
Tickets cost from £20.50 to £22.50 (plus £1 online booking fee).
Avenue Q is at the Buxton Opera House until Saturday 21 June 2014. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 0845 127 2190.
Buxton Opera House, Water Street, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 6XN | 0845 127 2190
