Avenue Q, Your Chance Productions Review

Reviewed by Emmie for Theatre and Tonic.

Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review.

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Last seen on the professional touring circuit thanks to Selladoor back in 2019, Avenue Q is an award-winning musical by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx. New audiences will be unprepared for the off-the-wall characters who reside in a run-down, dilapidated, and slightly more realistic version of Sesame Street. Meanwhile, fans of the show adore its clever humour, unforgettable songs, and the unique, irreverent charm of its puppet characters.

Based on the thoughts, attitudes, hang-ups, and experiences of its co-creators, Avenue Q has been an enormous hit since it burst onto the West End in 2006. Now it’s being performed by local amateur dramatic groups, including Your Chance Productions in Mountsorrel’s Memorial Centre, a fantastic venue for groups such as this one. 

The small and quirky puppet-led musical shines with a wonderful cast, each delivering a fulfilling and promising performance in their respective roles. Collectively each of the cast member has an opportunity to shine vocally and they take this opportunity by the hands. Highlights include Thomas Levi’s uncanny stage presence as Rod, Graham Buchanan’s hilarious portrayal of one of the Bad Idea Bears, and Max Eaglefield’s sultry take on Lucy The Slut. Jessica Mclean’s direction alongside Becky Morley’s choreography ensures the cast is well rehearsed with their puppets and they land the comedic elements of the script perfectly. However, there is still more work that can be done to go even further with the finer details in using the puppets to their extremities. 

The set design in this production offers so many opportunities for the story to build and change which works incredibly well with the cast. The stage crew, led by Vicki Eaglefield ensures there is clean fluidity to the transitions so that needs applauding. 

Your Chance Productions delivers a brilliant stage production here that will have audiences laughing out of their heads and playing the Original Cast Recording as soon as they leave the door. 

At Mountsorrel Memorial Centre until 29 June.

★ ★ ★ ★