Theatre Arlington presents Avenue Q

Music and Lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx

Book by Jeff Whitty

Directed by Bryan Stevenson

Music Directed by Mark Mullino

The Musicians

Keys 1 Mark Mullino

Keys 2 Vonda K Bowling

Guitar Dennis Langevin

Bass Andrew Goins

Drums Jay Majernik

Scenic Design Bryan Stevenson

Lighting Design Kyle Harris

Sound Design Ryan Simon

Costume Design Hope Cox

Properties Design Robin Dotson

Scenic Artist Bianca Folgar

Stage Manager Maria Leon Hickox

Asst Stage Manager Javier Casablanca

Asst Director and Puppet Captain Alfredo Tomayo

The Cast

Bryson Petersen

Brandon Wilhelm

Jessica Humphrey

Hayden Lopez

Darin Martin

Lindsay Longacre

Jayden Russell

Andrew Nicolas

Landry Beckley

Lindsey Hayward

Brandy Raper

My thoughts on Avenue Q at Theatre Arlington or…Personable perceptive puppets persevering perspicaciously.

I expected Avenue Q to be a bit dated after 20 years, but Theatre Arlington’s production is bright, fun, current and as refreshing as the unexpected rain shower that occurred the afternoon I attended.

Director and Scenic Designer Bryan Stevenson’s set of the row of apartment buildings on the avenue is colorful, holds a few surprises, and is appropriately “Sesame Street”ish. There are also many funny projections throughout the show that I am assuming were done by Lighting Designer Kyle Harris. Music Director Mark Mullino has everyone in fine voice and leads a fab band of four who keep the peppy pop score sounding super.

By now everyone knows that most of the story of Avenue Q is told by actors carrying puppets and, although this show is an obvious nod to “Sesame Street,” these puppets do and say things that would make Miss Piggy blush.

The real magic and artistry of this show is that somehow the actor and the puppet become one and the same. You actually see the person holding the puppet, but your brain registers them as one entity and you quickly grow to care about the fuzzy inhabitants of Avenue Q.

I don’t think it can be an easy task for an actor to manipulate a puppet and emote simultaneously, but the team that Director Stevenson has put together achieves “puppet fusion” flawlessly.

Bryson Petersen as Princeton and Jessica Humphrey as Kate Monster are the central characters of the musical. Princeton is out of college and looking to find his purpose in life. Petersen is terrific as the naive Princeton singing every liberal arts major’s lament. “What Do You Do with a B.A. in English?” Petersen gives Princeton an appealing wistful quality. Kate Monster is a teaching assistant and a neighbor of Princeton’s on the avenue. She’s an idealist and a romantic and develops an attraction to Princeton. Humphrey makes Kate a charmer. She’s a young monster you want to see succeed. Humphrey also has a lovely voice and her plaintive “There’s a Fine, Fine Line” is a touching, heartfelt moment in the show.

Nicky played by Hayden Lopez and Rod played by Darin Martin are roommates and also neighbors of Princeton. Nicky, who is straight, suspects that the conservative Rod, who enjoys reading about Broadway musicals of the 1940’s, might have a crush on him. Nicky, played as open and amiable by Lopez, sings “If You Were Gay” to his roomie to let him know his sexuality doesn’t matter to him, but Rod, who Martin makes convincingly uptight, is in denial. The trajectory of the two characters is fraught with ups and downs, but Lopez and Martin make them engaging.

Shaggy Trekkie Monster lives upstairs from Kate on the avenue and spends his days watching …well, his big song is “The Internet is for Porn.” Andrew Nicolas tears this part up, putting his imprint on the character forever. Nicolas, with his amazing stage presence and lovability, is going into the Trekkie Monster Hall of Fame.

Lucy is a big bosomed, voluptuous, slutty singer (and you thought you would never see a big bosomed, voluptuous slutty puppet?} at a local bar who sets her sights on Princeton. “Let me make ya feel special for an hour or two” is Lucy’s mantra. Brandy Raper has a field day making Lucy a sultry, man hungry vamp. I never thought I would say this, but Brandy Raper is a most excellent slut.

Bad Idea Bears 1 and 2 are played with adorably cute cuddliness by Landry Beckley and Lindsay Hayward. The Bad Idea Bears represent the temptations and self-doubts that creep into everyone’s brain. Beckley and Hayward are great fun in the roles giving the bears cartoonish voices which belie the often malicious intent of the bears.

Also on the avenue are some honest to goodness real humans not represented by puppets. Brandon Wilhelm and Lindsay Longacre are the couple Brian and Christmas Eve. Brian is a failed stand-up comedian and Christmas Eve is a therapist in need of patients. Brian hoped for a big career, but at 33 finds himself unemployed. Wilhelm makes Brian that lovable. schlubby guy that is impossible to dislike. How could you possibly dislike a character who sings, “I’m Not Wearing Any Underwear Today?” Longacre’s Christmas Eve is an immigrant to the US from Japan. In contrast to Brian, she’s ambitious and well educated. Christmas Eve is a tricky part that may produce a cringe or two from a 2023 audience as she is a racial stereotype that would be offensive if it were not being satirized. Longacre doesn’t hold back, and she makes Christmas Eve an audience favorite, especially when stating some truths about love in “The More You Ruv Someone.”

The most famous inhabitant of Avenue Q has to be former child star Gary Coleman. Coleman, whose earnings were stolen by his parents. now finds himself as a superintendent of an apartment building and really means it when he sings “It Sucks to be Me” with the others. Jayden Russell brings their copious stage charisma to Coleman. Russell’s Coleman is happy, boisterous, and a little irresponsible. I admired that Russell had fun with the character and incorporated many of Coleman’s tv mannerisms, but never let the character become an impression. It was also great to hear Russell’s big, beautiful voice belt out the great song “Schadenfreude” in a duet with Lopez’s Nicky.

Avenue Q in its 20th year remains relevant. The problems of 2003 are still with us today. Racism, bigotry, unemployment, and homelessness haven’t gone away. Avenue Q is a bighearted, fun, and frank musical. It’s a puppet show for adults that Director Stevenson and Music Director Mullino and a very talented cast have made into a don’t miss treat.

*There are some brief interviews with Avenue Q cast members on the @dfwcenterstage TikTok