'Avenue Q' - an adults only puppet show: Amber joins in some theatre action in the Adelaide City region of South Australia

There's something strange going on in a church hall in suburban Broadview as a group of motley puppets are learning the meaning of life the hard way. Welcome to a rehearsal of 'Avenue Q' - the politically incorrect Broadway smash hit about to be unleashed on Adelaide theatre-goers.

Local producer, Matt Byrne is mounting this production of Avenue Q after its runaway success at last year's Helpmann Awards. The premise of the show is simple enough - think Sesame Street a generation on - the puppets have grown up and are learning to cope with life, love and everything in between - not on Sesame Street but on Avenue Q - at the wrong end of Brooklyn.

Matt Byrne, Producer: "Avenue Q is about a young man called Princeton who arrives in this part of Brooklyn and he decides that he needs a life. He wants a room to rent, he wants a job, he meets Kate Monster and falls in love with her. It's the old boy meets monster, loses monster, finds monster and it's a lot of fun"

The result is a very entertaining - and very 'adults only' piece of live theatre which has been delighting and shocking audiences around the world since beating Wicked in the 2004 Tony Awards for best musical.

Amber Brown: "What's it like working with puppets?" Puppeteer: "I find it harder to talk as myself when I've got the puppet on like I feel really stupid right now talking as me. But I find it easier to pretend that I'm someone else." (in puppet character voice0

Matt Byrne, Producer: "I think puppets, dolls and animated characters can get away with a lot. And you will see everything you could imagine happen in this show. What people can do - puppets can do and yes, they can get away with murder. There is no murder in this show but there's a lot of the other sins covered."

When Matt booked the show he was confronted with a huge problem - where do get an entire cast of puppets - complete with attitude? Sue Dosset came to the rescue - creating all the characters in her back shed workshop where she runs her online puppet making company, "As We Grow Learning Toys".

The result is a complete ensemble of characters like graduate nerd, Princeton, his love interest, Kate Monster, warring roommates Nicky and Rod, and even an exotic dancer named Lucy.

The not for kids Avenue Q plays at the Arts Theatre from this Wednesday the 6, then at the Elizabeth Shedley Theatre from July the 21st. Bookings at Bass or Venue Tix. More ?'s email info@postcards-sa.com.au

Avenue Q Arts Theatre
season begins July 6 - 16

Shedley Theatre
Begins July 21 - 30
www.dramatix.com.au

As We Grow Learning Toys

Published 3rd July 2011