Theater Review: 'Avenue Q' at Center Stage Theatre

Review by Nancy Sasso Janis

It is hard to believe that two decades have passed since “Avenue Q” first opened on Broadway, winning the Tony for Best Musical over the behemoth “Wicked.” Center Stage Theatre continues its 20th season with a polished and laughter-filled production of this bold comedy that definitely holds up 22 years later.

Betsy Kelso directed and choreographed the big Center Stage production of the show with music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx and a book by Jeff Whitty. Kelsey reminds audiences that “The show brazenly skewers topics like racism, sexuality and financial woes, told through human and puppet characters in a style often described as ‘Sesame Street for adults’...With nods to sitcoms and kids’ shows of the ‘70s and ‘80s, ‘Avenue Q’ reminds us that we come of age not just once, but over and over again.” The director hopes that audiences find the world that Center Stage has created “equal parts warm/fuzzy + wild/funny” and this is the perfect description of the performance. Kelso is best known for writing and directing “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” Off Broadway.

The professional vibe of the production begins with the innovative set that was designed and built by Vinny LaVigna and Scott Sheldon. Kelso shares that it “deliberately leans into a skewed, childlike perspective of real life that leaves us all a little misshapen, but still in motion.”

The large, brightly colored apartment buildings appear to pop out of the video that begins the show and then fill the stage as in the beloved PBS series, augmented with two tv screens and a high window for Trekkie Monster and the building Super. The clever design functions as the city street view while allowing the puppeteers to work their puppets through the windows or at the side of the stage. The largest building seamlessly rotates for the scene in the club.

Jacob Marcus returns to Center Stage to marvelously perform the puppet role of Princeton, and apologies for everything he says on stage in his bio.

Cora Welsh, who played Mary Magdalene in Spotlight Stage’s “Jesus Christ Superstar,” is a delight as Kate Monster. This show has taught Welsh to accept the happiness and discomfort that come with each new journey, because “life may be scary, but it’s only temporary.”

Justin Zenchuk causes many smiles with his portrayal of the human Brian. Zenchuk walked into Center Stage as a high school freshman and 20 years later is a valued employee, performer and tech crew member.

Isaiah Rodriguez returns to Center Stage, “this time navigating life with puppets.” He gives a great performance in the role of Rod.

Hunter Smith, who was memorable in the role of Trevor in “The Play That Goes Wrong,” tackles the role of the two-handler puppet role of Nicky, who will remind patrons of Sesame Street’s Ernie. Smith's performance makes it all look easy.

Perseus J. Grant makes her Center Stage debut as the strong Asian-American Christmas Eve, a human with two Masters degrees in social work and no clients. Briana Dawson returns to Center Stage and makes the most of the role of the grown up child star Gary Coleman.

David Kaminski, who patrons will remember as Ernie Cusack in “Rumors,” is hysterically naughty in the role of Trekkie Monster.

In her Center Stage debut, Maya Jennings Daley (“Jesus Christ Superstar” at TheatreWorks) struts forward to perform the role of the puppet Lucy, as well as covering one of the Bad Idea Bears and the second hand of other puppets. Alyssa Grosso, who actually holds a BA in English from Keene State, works only a smidge less hard as a Bad Idea Bear, Mrs. Thistletwat and others.

The puppet supplies, workshop and additional puppets were provided by Make-A-Puppet and Gwen Dean. The printed program indicates that a team of volunteers built Center Stage’s “Avenue Q” puppets entirely from scratch, as opposed to renting them.

Paul Keegan serves as the production’s music director, while Garbriela Esposito works backstage as stage manager/QLab Operator and Katie McCabe serves as stage manager/props master. Zenchuk stepped up to design the lighting with the director. Shout outs to Melanie Byron, Caitlin Curtain and LaVigna, also credited as animator, for working as the crew. Sandra Fernandes is credited for the wonderful costumes for both humans and puppets, with Grant and Colleen Mongillo in charge of puppet maintenance.

“Avenue Q” is a musical comedy that features mature themes. Recommended for ages 14-up with parental discretion. This is an impressive (and very funny) production that continues at Center Stage, 54 Grove St. in Shelton, through June 15. Tickets at ci.ovationtix.com.

Nancy Sasso Janis is a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle (ctcritics.org.)

Photos courtesy of GrayPeak Images for Center Stage Theatre