Avenue Q is a musical like no other. It is a puppet show that exceeds expectations, through refreshing, in-your-face humour, clever songs with strong melodies but key to this show’s success is the stellar cast who deliver outstanding performances.

Although the main characters are puppets, rest assured this is an adult show including a fruity sex scene as well as a song explaining that the true purpose of the internet is for porn.

One of the key themes in Avenue Q is coming of age and finding your way in life. The story begins with the arrival of Princeton who is fresh-faced, straight out of University and has moved to New York to find his “purpose” in life.

The economic landscape is bleak and most of the characters on Avenue Q have money or job worries.

The tone is set with the song, ‘It sucks to be me’ where the puppets and human characters are introduced with cheerful self-depreciating humour while also identifying their insecurities: job, money, love, acceptance.

What this show does well is relate to the audience by bringing home truths to light and facing them head on with honesty and unadulterated comedy to tackle subjects such racism, homosexuality and homelessness.

As shown in the song ‘If you were gay’ where one character encourages his friend to come out while stressing that he himself is not gay.

The song ‘Everyone’s a little bit racist’ challenges politically correctness with the words “Ethinic jokes might be uncouth but you laugh because they’re based on truth. Don’t take them as personal attacks, everyone enjoys them so relax”.

The suggestion is made that admitting prejudice may be beneficial with lyrics, “Even though we all know that it’s wrong, maybe it would help us get along”.

The Sesame Street style mock educational songs succeed in making a valid point through humour while managing to avoid making trivialising the subjects.

What is a real treat in the production of Avenue Q is the quality of the performances and in particular Katherine Moraz who demonstrates seamless dexterity when flitting between two contrasting characters, the shy but feisty Kate Monster and the bolshy Lucy the Slut. A highlight was her emotional rendition of ‘There’s a fine fine line’.

Chris Thatcher impressed as he scooped many punch lines with his energy and perfectly pitched comedy in the roles of porn-fan Trekkie Monster, Nicky and one of the Bad Idea Bears.

Sam Lupton as Princeton and Rod was excellent as was Julie Yammanee as Christmas Eve.