Puppets Rock the Phillips Center

Last night (Nov. 10), we went to Avenue Q at the Phillips Center. Here's our report.

As the lights dim, the curtains are pulled back to expose a simple set with an orange backdrop. This is life in the big city, where people (and puppets) deal with rent, relationships and finding their place in the world. This is Avenue Q.

The show opens to Princeton, a recent college grad looking for a place to live. The audience roars as the motley crew of puppets and humans introduce themselves and their life-woes in “It Sucks To Be Me.” The puppets are only torsos controlled by a puppeteer in all black, but they look like real people, and they can sing. I’m seated at the top of the balcony, yet I feel like I’m in the front row.

Out of all the characters, Asian-American therapist-to-be Christmas Eve is my favorite. She looks like Ms. Swan from Mad TV with her broken English, funny mannerisms and outlandish costume. I’m perched on the edge of my seat as large television monitors drop from the ceiling with the word “Purpose.” This show isn’t just full of raunchy humor—it has a bigger message. All of the animations are fun and cartoon-like and my jaw drops as they segue into “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist.”

It’s only 30 minutes in and I'm awestruck.

Two Carebear-like bears come on—the “Bad Idea Bears”—and they have definitely stolen the show. In cut childish voices, they convince Princeton and his love, Kate Monster, into doing some not-so-responsible things. An X-rated puppet sex session follows. Soon Princeton’s “purpose” morphs into “propose” and Kate is worried about walking the line between love and a waste of time.

The mood mellows for a few songs and picks back up with “I wish I Could Go Back to College.” A moment of fear passes through me as I realize I don’t have much time left until I’m going to graduate from college. What am I going to do? How am I going to find my purpose ? My fears are placated, however, as one of the show’s morals sinks in—everything in life is only for now.

I am delighted as the characters come out into the audience and incorporate the Gators into a joke. The show ends, and as everyone bows, the audience rises to its feet. I have a grin from ear-to-ear and my hands hurt from clapping so loud. I feel a little more optimistic—even if it’s just for one night.

—Victoria Phillips

MORE: Read our interview with Avenue Q wardrobe supervisor Heather Yerrick

Puppet Show NOT Child's Play

The adult-themed, Sesame Street-inspired puppet show, Avenue Q, will play at the Phillips center tonight (Nov. 9) and Nov. 10. Despite some obvious parallels with Jim Henson's Sesame Street, the show is in no way affiliated with the classic children's show. Avenue Q trails the lives of a handful of young adults trying to find themselves on the rough streets of NYC.

We caught up with Avenue Q’s wardrobe supervisor Heather Yerrick, who gave us the scoop on what being head of wardrobe is all about, and why you will be peeing your pants during this coming-of-age comedy.

What is Avenue Q all about?
It’s a fun and light-hearted show. It’s not your everyday musical — it’s quirky. The story follows a lot of 20-somethings who are just looking for where they belong in the world, why they’ve been put here and what they can do to make their lives better. They’re struggling with jobs, lovers, friends, relationships and paying rent.

Why would someone enjoy coming to see the show?
It’s completely irreverent and enjoyable show with catchy tunes. It’s not like Oklahoma. It’s not another cookie-cutter musical. The show is for them if they have a sense of humor and can laugh at life. If someone wants to enjoy a good solid laugh, Avenue Q is probably the place for him or her to be.

How did you become involved with the show?
I had been working on a Spongebob Squarepants show in Asia with the costume director who would later be hired for Avenue Q.

What exactly does a wardrobe supervisor do?
There is nothing huge about wardrobe with this show. There are only three human characters that change clothes. It’s certainly a smaller show for me, and it’s more about getting the laundry schedule right than anything else. So few people in the world want to hear about day-in and day-out of doing people's laundry.

What is it like working with puppets?
The puppets don’t change clothes, which is nice. We just have several puppets in different pieces of clothing. Rather than running off stage and doing a quick change with a puppet we just switch the puppet. It certainly makes life a bit easier because there is a lot of puppet swapping in our show.

Avenue Q runs at the Phillips Center, 315 Hull Road, Nov.9 and Nov.10 at 7:30pm. Tickets available at the Phillips Center box office and online at Ticketmaster.com.

--Victoria Phillips