Avenue Q Review - Brighton Theatre Royal

In less than a decade Avenue Q has become a modern classic and one of the most widely seen musicals of the past 10 years (rivalled only by Wicked) playing on stages across the world, included Broadway and in London€™s West End. So I was not surprised to find a packed house last night at the Brighton Theatre Royal for the opening night of the touring production of Avenue Q, playing until this coming Saturday. The show is a great production, and is still as funny, shocking and once you get past the swearing and porn jokes, genuinely sweet as it has ever been. The cast all nail their roles perfectly, and the quick changes between puppets and voices are pulled off with great timing. Chris Thatcher and Katharine Moraz particularly stood out amongst the cast; the change between an average Joe (Nicky) to a psychotic bear is not an easy one, but Thatcher manages to do it hilariously! The set is great and the performers use the space well, emerging from doorways and secret compartments all over the stage. The screens that display parodied Sesame Street animations could probably be a little higher to accommodate the stalls, but this is no real problem. The themes in Avenue Q resonate not just in its New York City Borough setting but everywhere it is performed; who does know their purpose in life, and yes everyone does secretly like porn. Nice contemporary touches have been adapted to the book, including a joke about the Euro, which got a resounding laugh. The touring production of Avenue Q currently playing at the Brighton Theatre Royal is a great night out; the show is funny and features a great cast. Avenue Q is currently playing at the Brighton Theatre Royal until Saturday 9th June.