Review | AVENUE Q (UK Tour) September 2014

Winner of the TONY Award “Triple Crown” for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book, Avenue Q is penned as part flesh, part felt and packed with heart. This Broadway Musical by Robert Lopez, Jeff Marx and Jeff Whitty is indeed witty, teaches you about life, sex, finances and internet porn... Sesame Street, it ain't! 

Princeton, a recent graduate begins his search for a place to live on Avenue A but ends up finding the cheapest apartment much further out of town, in Avenue Q. Superintendent Gary Coleman can merely reflect on his days as a child star for now he's fixing the toilets. Along the way, Princeton finds friends, Brian and his Japanese wife Christmas Eve, Nicky and closeted gay roommate Rod, porn addict Trekkie Monster and the sweetest girl, Kate Monster. Like us, they've all got problems but there's always a solution -  the cure to your crappy day may just be a ticket to Avenue Q!

The uplifting, lighthearted look at life is lead by Tom Steedon as both Princeton and Rod, flitting effortlessly between the two. Rod is easily deserving of sympathy, he has some great moments including Steedon's tender 'Fantasies Come True' and in Rod's hilarious coming out. Princeton's 'Purpose' song is a vocal highlight alongside Kate Monster's incredible Act 1 closing number - 'There's A Fine Fine Line'. Kate Monster, played by Jessica Parker in the absence of Lucie-Mae Sumner is a very strong addition to the line up. Parker delights her home crowd of Birmingham in what was clearly a particularly special performance. 

Stephen Arden works incredibly hard as three separate characters, Nicky, Trekkie and a Bad Idea Bear. It is his Trekkie Monster however that steals most of the scenes, a clear audience favourite, there is overwhelming and rapturous applause for 'The Internet Is For Porn'. 

Jacqueline Tate revives her role of Christmas Eve, a part she played in a previous West End production. Tate is a master of comic timing and ensures that we understand her, even when spluttering incomprehensible Japanese language. 

The puppets by Paul Jomain differ slightly in design from the original Cameron Mackintosh production, but not so that they are any less captivating. The set is simpler than previous stagings but it works, the magic of Avenue Q is nothing complicated, just pure talent. Puppet coaches Nigel Plaskitt and Sam Lupton are to be commended on ensuring quality, convincing and accurate puppetry.

Avenue Q remains one of modern musical theatre's greatest triumphs. A show that has heart, a beautiful score and a side-splitting script.... oh, and puppets! This is the ultimate recipe for feel-good fun! See Avenue Q at Birmingham New Alexandra Theatre until Saturday 20 September 2014. Book tickets online here. 

Money from 'The Money Song' of course goes to help Kate Monster with her Monstersorri School, but also to Teenage Cancer Trust. You can donate to the cause by clicking here if you didn't quite reach the collection hat. 

Cast List: Stephen Arden, Richard Morse, Jessica Parker, Tom Steedon, Lucie-Mae Sumner, Jacqueline Tate, Elena Vincent, Greg Airey, Will Hawkesworth, Emily-Jane Morris, Etisyai Philip

PERFORM / MOVE IT SHOW (Olympia London) March 2013

Perform and Move It are the ultimate performing arts events packed with performances, workshops, seminars, interviews and stalls for the biggest names in dance, drama and theatre. Over three days the event welcomes over 20,000 visitors from the world of creative and performing arts. 

One of Move It's hotspots is the Dance Register Interview Sofa with host Annaliese Dayes (America's Next Top Model). Tommy Franzén (So You Think You Can Dance) spoke to Inside Dance TV about his career, time in the Rodin Project and his past and future involvement in ZooNation's Some Like It Hip Hop. Also the D.inc. Wear campaign models (Aaron Renfree, Erin Dusek, Danielle Peazer, Dominique Tipper and Anthony Kaye) showcased the hottest dance-wear from Mrs Jones. 

The Showcase Theatre, hosted by Dean McCullough was alive with performances from the leading dance schools, colleges and academies - a great place to meet the principles, current students and if you're about to audition it's a great opportunity to watch and choose the school that's right for you. 

The Main Stage, hosted by Matt Flint was the centre of attention quite regularly throughout the day. Kimberly Wyatt premiered Tea For Two (starring Adam Garcia) and performed her latest single Derriere. Jonathan Wilkes sang Mr. Bojangles promoting his new school Wilkes Academy in Swindon. There were also performances from Twist & Pulse and recent Got To Dance contemporary-jazz sensation G-Nome. 

The Main Stage was also the place for dance colleges to showcase their work to thousands of dancers, choreographers, directors and enthusiasts. Highlights included Let There Be Love by Urdang Academy, Masters Performing Arts College's Commercial routine Until They Kick Us Out and Performers College Luck Be A Lady.

URDANG ACADEMY

MASTERS PERFORMING ARTS COLLEGE

Over in the Perform hall (which was a lot quieter) an interview with actor/writer/director Steven Berkoff was most interesting. Berkoff who has most recently been working on Actors Lament began with how he as an out-of-work actor began writing to rid his lack of self-worth.
"I wrote for my own entertainment in the frustration of not working and to earn some self-regard. When you're a dancer, even if you're unemployed you can still be 'working' by taking dance classes every day to perfect your craft - you're not just sat around... it's different for actors, you can't always do that. Actors I urge to learn text. Take great and significant texts like Shakespeare, for grittiness learn Macbeth... learn it all and by doing that you'll strengthen your acting mind." 

Berkoff who was taught mime by Jacques Lecoq went on to explain how theatre today has lost its sense of ensemble: "Lecoq taught us to think outside ourselves and outside of our egos. He taught us ensemble and how to utilise gesture and the body and it should absolutely be mandatory for directors to do a course in Lecoq. They know nothing about the body and so they create a fantastical dead theatre. People like Julie Taymor are a great example of those who have benefited from Lecoq, look at The Lion King - it utilises every element of the body - and my work has always been about that."

The amateur rights for Broadway musical Avenue Q were released this week and Rupert Sharp explained that demand for the show has seen Josef Weinberger Ltd. inundated with requests. They offer the Libretto, piano conductor scores, logo packs, video animations as well as the hire of 11 rehearsal puppets and 15 performance puppets all made with the same appearance as the puppets in the professional productions. More information here.

In attendance at Perform/Move It were a group of young Midlands students and theatre-goers. For them, the trip was organised by the

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre 

Get-In! Youth Scheme

Get-In! is open to all 9 - 18 year olds and for just £10 a year offers a range of fantastic benefits for those interested in performing arts. The offers include £5 best available stand-by tickets for shows at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, backstage tours, Glee Choir, summer schools with West End stars and theatre experts, workshops, London theatre trips and opportunities to visit events such as Perform/Move It.

Grace Gull was a Get-In! member for five years and since January has been an active member of the team behind the organisation and planning of education events for the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre. She was a supervisor for the Get-In! members at Perform/Move It and reflects on the trips success:

Perform/Move It was a great event that allows the creative industry, music, dance and drama, to come together and showcase talents whilst giving advice to the future generation of performers. The Get-In! members throughly enjoyed the day and got some great advice from industry professionals. The members attended a range of workshops from a conversation with Steven Berkoff, direction movement with the RSC and musical theatre to name a few. The Get-In! members had a brilliant day and gained from the advice that the top class drama schools could give them.

Download a Get-In! application form here.