GUARANTEED HAPPINESS AWAITS
It was just slightly over a year ago that the newcomer Revolution Stage Company staked its claim as one of The Valley’s top production companies with their presentation of Avenue Q (see Stage and Cinema‘s review) There was a bit of concern when the company announced that it would be restaged for this season with several roles played by different actors. The good news is that the current production is at least as good as last year’s presentation, if not better.
Avenue Q, with Music & Lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx and book by Jeff Whitty, is a story told by a combination of large hand puppets operated and voiced by visible puppeteers and costumed characters, not unlike the residents of a certain Street who have entertained and educated millions of young Americans for decades. It won the Tony Award for Best Musical of 2003 and between its Broadway and follow-up Off-Broadway runs, it clocked some 6,569 performances. In Avenue Q the characters have grown up and are facing issues of unemployment, housing, relationships, and finding their purpose in life. The problems and reactions are familiar to all of us.
The story starts with Princeton (puppeteer Joseph Portoles) who has just graduated from college and is trying to find affordable housing. He started at Avenue A and has now worked his way down to Avenue Q, still seeking affordability. His first song, “What Do You Do With a BA in English?” sets the tone for the show. It sounds a lot like “Rainbow Connection” from The Muppet Movie, but doesn’t actually borrow a single measure from that song. Most people with college degrees can relate to Princeton’s question, as well as most of the problems these young singles encounter. And since it is dealing with that age group, it is often quite salty and would even garner an “R” rating for puppet-on-puppet encounters!
There are nine puppet characters operated by six visible puppeteers in simple black outfits, and three costumed characters. Even though the puppeteers use plenty of facial expressions as they sing and speak for their puppets, it is easy to look past that and concentrate on the more colorful puppets. In addition to Portoles’ Princeton, Kelly McDaniel plays Lucy the Slut and Mrs. Thistletwat; Samuel Moffat is Rod, the Republican with a secret; Kolby Queenan is Nicky, Rod’s straight roommate, and one of the Bad Idea Bears; Candice Coe is Kate Monster; Nathan Cox plays Trekkie Monster, a porn-addicted body puppet; and Imani De Leon is the other Bad Idea Bear and various puppets’ second hand. Human characters are Christine Michele as Christmas Eve, a therapist who moved here from Japan; Jacob Samples as Brian, Christmas Eve’s husband and a wanna-be comedian; and Alisha Bates as Gary Coleman – yes, that Gary Coleman — who has now sunk to being the superintendent of the houses on Avenue Q since his TV career tanked.
The Revolution’s stage sound system is my favorite of any theatre in The Valley. Their balance between recorded tracks and live voices always seems spot on, and they are played at a level that makes them clear and audible to audiences of a certain age, as most audiences are in Palm Springs. Sound was designed by Kelly McGuire and operated by Nick Forde, and the very efficient lighting designed and operated by Mariah Pryor. Animations on both the upstage video wall and large monitors on each side of the stage were actually created by the composer, Robert Lopez, and are rented along with the script. Although Musical Director Stephen Hulsey is not present for performances, his work preparing and blending the singers is terrific.
And top marks go to Laura Stearns for the Muppet-like puppets. Each of them is unique and looks like the character they portray. For the original Broadway production, the puppets cost as much as $10,000 each. While Stearns’ budget limitations might not have allowed that level of product, the characters she created are terrific.
I have had a few “Happy Shows” in my life which I love to see as often as possible. They include The Fantasticks and the original You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown. I truly wish this production of Avenue Q could set up a permanent residence nearby so I could re-visit it from time to time to give myself a week-long smile. It’s that kind of show, and for me, that kind of show is always welcome.
photos courtesy of Revolution Stage Company
Avenue Q
Revolution Stage Company
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs
remaining performances
Thu, Feb 13 at 7
Fri, Feb 14 at 7
Sat, Feb 15 at 8
Sun, Feb 16 at 2
Thu, Feb 20 at 7
Fri, Feb 21 at 7
ends on February 21, 2025
for tickets, visit Revolution
