“Avenue Q”

Highly Recommended ***** Recently, I attended the Metropolis Theatre production of “Avenue Q” written by Jeff Whitty (book) and music and lyrics by Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez. For those of you who read my reviews, I did say that this production was the best thing I have ever seen on the stage in downtown Arlington Heights, and in fact I was proud of the work. Tonight, while that show still has the week-end to run, a new version of the show opened up in Wrigleyville at The Mercury Theater under the watchful eye of director L Walter Stearns and his musical director Eugene Dizon. Alan Donahue’s set is very close to the original production and is a bit tighter than the Metropolis. While I still say, the Metropolis production was in fact the best they have ever done, the Mercury Theater production is extraordinary with some of the best talent I have ever seen playing the roles.

I would hope that everyone knows what “Avenue Q ” is. It is a coming of age musical that for many resembles “Sesame Street, X-RATED”. When the Mercury put this on previously, I felt that they could not improve upon the stellar production they brought to their stage. I guess I was wrong. This production makes that one look simple and perhaps even “tame”. Many of these cast members are from the cast that wowed previous audiences, but, the newcomers have added even more flavor and class to the fun-loving story telling of people and puppets combined as one. Kevin Bellie handles the sharp choreography and the puppets, designed by Russ Walko, and the training of  actors  by Rick Lyon ,to make sure they work as one. Within minutes, we cease seeing the actors with puppets, but instead see them as one unit. Lyon was a puppeteer on Sesame Street where he operated “Big Bird”. In this production, it is his function to teach the actors the proper technique and Jonah D. Winston’s rendition of Trekkie Monster is hysterical. His rendition of “The Internet is For Porn” is dynamite and will have you rolling in the aisles.

In fact, Stearns has put together an all-star cast, including Jackson Evans as our hero Princeton. He has a great vocal range and is a wonderful actor. His “girlfriend” is Kate Monster ( played to perfection by Leah Morrow, who has come a long way from her ensemble days to becoming a solid character actress, who has a knack with puppets). They fall in love, and FYI, there is a very sexy scene ( as sexy as puppets can be) between them. The Ernie and Bert type characters are Nicky (Dan Smeriglio is terrific) and Rod (Christian Siebert), who is “not gay”!

The couple that enjoys a Jewish Wedding are Brian ( a would be comedian , played by Matthew Miles) and his girl, Christmas Eve ( warmly played by Audrey Billings, who gets every comic line down just right). Terre are also two “bears” called the Bad Idea Bears, who seem to screw up anything headed in the right direction. they are handled by Smeriglio and Stephanie Herman ( who also handles the very sexy Lucy). One of the funniest characters is the “super” of the building on “Avenue Q”, Gary Coleman ( incredibly played by newcomer David S, Robbins). Keep an eye on him. You will see a lot more of him on this stage and others.

“Avenue Q” is kind of a racy cross between South Park and Sesame Street, taking us into the lives of people of different backgrounds and showing us that people and puppets can get along. Jewish, monsters, African-Americans, gays and straights can all get along. Princeton and his friends all attempt to find their way into life so they can escape from the dinginess of” Avenue Q”, but along the way, they find friendship and they all seem to find “purpose” in their lives. The songs will make you feel as if you are watching a kids show, but listen tot he words “If You Were Gay”, “It Sucks To Be Me”, Everyone is a little bit racist”, “I Wish I Could Go Back To College”, “The Money Song” and many more. Most funny, but deep down all meaningful.

The musical direction by Eugene Dizon ( at the keyboard) tonight, but with conductor Linda Madonia and keyboard (Celia Villacres), guitar ( Scott Sedlacek), reeds ( Cara Hartz) and percussion (Lindsay Willimas) who are backstage, make the sound of this score feel as if the orchestra were much larger. Great work! The video design by Max Maxin IV was sparkling and the costumes by Rachel Boylan superb.Carl Wahlstrom handled the sound and Dustin Derry the lighting, making this a sharp technical hit as well. Great job Walter.

“Avenue Q” will continue at The Mercury Theater  located at 3745 N. Southport thru NOVEMBER 4th, leaving you time to see it once or twice more. Performances are as follows:

Wednesday  8 p.m.

Thursdays  8 p.m.

Friday  8 p.m.

Saturday  5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Sunday  3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Running time is approx. 2 hours=thirty-minutes including a 15 minute intermission.

Tickets range from $35- $65 and can be purchased online at www.MercuryTheaterChicago.com, calling 773-325-1700 or stop by the box office. For an extra $25 you can add a backstage pass that also allows you a puppet demonstration and a souvenir. Valet parking is available and there is metered parking around the area. Watch the Cubs schedule, as on night games, you could have a problem.

To see what others are saying, visit http://www.theatreinchicago.com go to Review Round-Up and click at “Avenue Q”  Mercury

NOTE:  I returned to see the show again last night with an out of town guest. It had the same vitality as opening night which can be difficult in such a high energy production. In tonight’s performance, the roles/puppets handled by Stephanie Herman were handled by Stephanie Wohar  who is a dyamite bundle of talent and her Lucy may have been even better than that of opening night. Eugene Dizon led the Mercury musicians to perfection. This show is a must see, no matter who might be onstage and this performance proved it!