Though it hasn’t been around for 40 years like it’s kids show counterpart, "Avenue Q" has an impressive track record. The show opened in 2003 at Broadway’s Golden Theatre and went on to win a Tony Award for Best Musical. Onstage, performers sing, act and manipulate life-sized puppet torsos at the same time.
The fuzzy puppets that inhabit “Avenue Q” won’t teach their audiences how to sing the ABC’s. These mature Sesame Street-like adult puppets have real problems: sex, racism, morals and finding a purpose in life.
The show centers on Avenue Q newcomer Princeton. He has big dreams when he moves to New York City but like many a recent graduate, ends up in a shabby outer-borough with a medley of not-so-successful neighbors.
Metro spoke to Princeton’s two odd-couple neighbors, Rod, a sexually confused investment banker and Nicky, his slacker roommate.
What’s Avenue Q like?
Nicky: It is very diverse. Gays, blacks, Asians, monsters, sluts. It's just a nice mix of all types of people.
What did you think of your neighbor Princeton when he first moved in?
Rod: Princeton is a wide eyed college graduate...what more needs to be said. He's got a lot to learn.
Nicky: He was nice. A definite new addition to poker night. All us guys were excited. And the girls were too for other reasons!
How would you describe each other?
Rod: Nicky is a good person at heart. Despite his sloppy and disrespectful nature we balance out quite nicely.
Nicky: He is so smart and driven and I strive to be like him. He also plays dress up with me every once in awhile and we make home videos. He always likes to be the girl characters and I like to be the cool main guy so it works out perfectly.
‘Avenue Q’
Through Sunday
Colonial Theatre
106 Boylston St., Boston
MBTA: Green Line to Boylston
$43-$88, 617-880-2460
www.broadwayacrossamerica.com