When you’re young, the idea of being an independent grownup sounds like a dream come true. However, life is tough for humans and puppets everywhere. Yes, even puppets.
Southeast Texas Stages presents “Avenue Q” through March 9. Written by Jeff Whitty, the Tony Award-winning musical is about the fictitious street in New York City and the lives of its residents.
The main character, Princeton (Kale Kibodeaux), is fresh out of college with a BA in English, meaning Avenue Q is the only area in New York in his price range. The story revolves around his zany human and puppet neighbors with their individual struggles.
Kate Monster (Caroline Barnett) is a kindergarten teaching assistant who dreams of forming her own school, Rod (Trey Honza) and Nickey (Brandon Rhodes) are roommates who butt heads over their shared space, Brian (Joey Norton) is unemployed and engaged to Christmas Eve (Robin Heniger), a licensed therapist without clients. Their landlord Gary Coleman (Joshua Fontenot) is an aging child celebrity making money where he can. And Trekkie Monster (Bobby McDaniel) is just plain creepy. However, there’s more to their stories than meets the eye and everyone seems to have a purpose.
Princeton, in search of his purpose, confides in his neighbors and forms a special bond with them. However, there’s a “fine, fine line” between finding yourself and letting life’s moments pass by.
Composers Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx tell a fantastic story through song with lines which make the audience laugh or painfully relate.
“Everyone’s A Little Bit Racist” and “Schadenfreude” point out the small judgments people make about others and the amusement they feel towards the misery of others. The lyrics feel like a slap in the face, but keep us laughing anyway.
“I Wish I Could Go Back To College” and “For Now” are emotional and hit harder — especially as I am about to graduate from college and take those first steps into adulthood.
Kibodeaux’s Princeton is charming and witty. The audience finds themselves rooting for him as he learns how to be truly independent and be involved in his community.
Barnett’s Katie is hardworking and knows what she wants, which is emphasized in her acting.
Honza’s Rod and Rhodes’ Nicky are a fun duo who share the spotlight, complementing each other in their respective scenes. But their solo moments are where they truly shine.
While the rest of the cast are puppets operated by actors, Norton’s Brian and Heniger’s Christmas Eve are a human energetic and fun couple. With their conflicting personalities, it doesn’t seem like the two would be compatible. And yet somehow, they are. Through their performances, their love for each other is clear.
McDaniel’s Trekkie Monster, another puppet, does not have much to say, but his physicality and out-of-pocket comments make him a memorable character.
Fontenot’s Gary Coleman steals the show with his physicality and energy, creating a fantastic dynamic for the other characters to bounce off.
“Avenue Q” keeps the harsh reality of life in the center of everything, but it’s not all doom and gloom for the humans and puppets out there. There’s happiness, laughter, love and everything in between. But, only for now.
Showtimes are 7:30 p.m., Feb. 27, 28, March 1, 7, 8 and 9, with matinees at 2 p.m., March 1, and 3 p.m., March 9. Southeast Texas Stages is located at 4155 Laurel Ave. in Beaumont. For tickets, visit setxs.org.
The Feb. 27 performance is pay-what-you-can admission.