Avenue Q (18/09/10, Wyndham's Theatre, London)

The only musical I've seen twice, other than Hairspray, is Avenue Q, which I caught again last weekend in London, as part of a group of internet friends meeting up. It's up there with Hairspray as being one of the funniest, most enjoyable musicals I've ever seen, and it was just as good the second time around. 

It's basically a stage show which is like Sesame Street but with filthy songs, a good dollop of racism, sexism and gays. With songs like 'Everyone's a Little Bit Racist', 'If You Were Gay' and my favourite, Trekkie Monster's 'The Internet is For Porn', it's definitely not for kids, or anyone easily offended. There are human characters, including a stereotypically-accented Japanese lady called Christmas Eve, and there are puppet characters, who are operated by perfectly visible puppeteers. The puppeteers are never acknowledged though, and there aren't even any sly references to them, so once you get past the initally incongruity of being able to see them, you really do find yourself watching the puppets. 

The show is like Sesame Street with a hefty dose of realism, and all the fakery stripped away. There are screens showing educational cartoon skits occasionally too, explaining terms like 'schadenfreude' and 'one night stands', which just add to the general hilarity. There's nothing I can fault Avenue Q for, it's balls out fun, with added scenes of puppet sex. I can't wait to go and see it again when it tours!