Page 31 - Real Rochdale - Winter 2018

AVENUE Q YOUR ONE STOP PARTY SHOP

SPECIALISED BALLOON DÉCOR
AND PERSONALISED GIFTS
Personalised

●Cards
●Flowers
●Balloons
●Teddies
Photo: Martin Ogden ●Gift Bags
●Mugs
Stylistically, Avenue Q looks as if it was just around Chris Addington invested Nicky (who slides down & much more
the corner from Sesame Street; colourful puppets from Avenue Q to Skid Row) with his own While you wait
singing upbeat songs all about tackling the great trademark rumbustiousness.
big world, but Lopez & Marx’s 2003 musical
acknowledges that life is more of a jungle out there He is ably abetted by Jess Dawber, who showed
once you’re an adult. The inhabitants of Avenue Q great versatility in also playing vinegary old Mrs T
tell it like it is with confessional zest and humour. and one of the irritating Bad Idea Bears.
The lyrics are a hoot, satirising 21st century hang-
ups and attitudes about racism, the internet, Eleanor Kelly vamps outrageously as Lucy The Slut.
homophobia and relationships, all contained within Screamingly uptight was Steven Cheeseman
razzamataz songs with the odd reflective number. acting Rod, the closet gay guy - a wonderfully
jumpy exercise in paranoia.
This WAMDS production is slick and smart, the
players showing great dexterity manipulating the Martin White has been a WAMDS luminary for
puppets, their characters expressed through full- years and always gives great value, here in a trio of
blooded human performances. All work hard to nicely differentiated roles.
make the sassy dialogue and catchy songs zing. Liam Dodd and Ashleigh Ho, as squabbling
The simple, all-purpose set, a frontage of newly-weds Brian and Christmas Eve(!), raised the
multi-coloured terraced houses, operates at comic stakes every time they emerged, great fun as
different levels, with upper windows thrown open an irrepressibly embarrassing failed stand-up and
for contributions from above his sarcy, language-mangling Japanese partner.

There was no weak link to speak of in a talented, The folksy, deep verbal stylings of Leroy Liburd,
mostly young cast. Jack Martin brilliantly played playing caretaker Gary were also a joy.
the energetic focus of the piece, Princeton, with a
range of emotions. Phil Harrison enjoyed himself hugely as Trekkie
Monster, memorably extolling the splendours of
As the sensible, central female character Kate the internet.
(even though a monster!), Megan Wight brought
great subtlety of expression to the cartoonish Forget puppet prejudice, surrender immediately to
proceedings and shone particularly in the quieter the racy, rackety fun happening down Avenue Q.
numbers - a promising performer, making the
step-up to stardom here.
REAL ROCHDALE - WINTER 2018 30 31 REAL ROCHDALE - WINTER 2018