Stage Review: Avenue Q

Avenue Q, a sort of grittier, dirtier Sesame Street (in no way related), tells the tale of the residents of a low-income neighborhood. The puppets are operated by actors who are in full view, on stage, singing and dancing with no attempt at being hidden. Knowing that going in, I worried that I would find this distracting. Note, this is not a show for children.

From the opening number, in which the male puppet lead asks what he's supposed to do with his newly-earned BA in English, the show drew me in. The puppet-operating actors sort of blend into their puppets, even the ones who voice several characters at the same time.

The music is catchy, the lyrics had the audience howling in laughter and humor maintained the right blend of anti-PC, bawdiness, and even truth to make the show great. Musical numbers include the funny, and probably more honest than people want to admit "Everybody's A Little Bit Racist", the filthily hilarious "My Girlfriend in Canada", the silly "The Internet is for Porn" and "It Sucks to be Me" and the surprisingly smart "There's a Fine, Fine Line" (which I wish more women would take to heart).

The show includes video screens which are lowered into view for hilarious definitions (educational TV style), the incredibly funny and cute Bad Idea Bears and on-stage, full-nekkid puppet sex. I tried to warn you, not for kids.

The only thing I did find distracting was some of the people switching puppets, which is clever, but almost purposely "look how clever we are".

I give it a 4.5 stars out of 5, in the hopes that they will make it even better and come back.

Stage Review: Spamalot

Definitely do not see this musical if you don't like Monty Python. You might think that goes without saying, but while in the ladies' room at intermission, I heard one person say "It's a little raunchy" and another say "I don't get it".

That being said, I don't think you really need to have the movie memorized to enjoy this musical, but you do have to have an appreciation of the style of humor unique to Monty Python. In the musical, let's say loosely, based on the movie "Monty Python and the Search for the Holy Grail". I appreciated that the musical was different enough from the movie that it didn't feel like watching my nerdy high school friends act out the movie, but that it also had all the scenes/famous lines you'd expect, as well as borrowing from a few other Python productions.

King Arthur, assisted by faithful Patsy, sets off on a quest to gather a band of knights, then find the Holy Grail. Along the way they encounter rude French soldiers, the Lady of the Lake, the Knights Who Say Ni and more. Progressing with a cheeky wink to the audience, they have shocking lavish musical numbers (including the show stopping "Find Your Grail") and without a doubt, the sparkliest costumes ever in one musical, and I saw Dreamgirls.

The musical has a far more fun and satisfying ending than the movie. I enjoyed it thoroughly, especially once it deviated from the movie. Even the program had several "joke" pages.

I don't plan to get the soundtrack to Spamalot, but I'd see it again if it came back.

4 out of 5 stars.