Review

BrassNeck Theatre

Yeadon Town Hall

Have you ever wanted to go back to college? Wondered why you didn’t have a boyfriend?

Or... perhaps... had a one-night stand with a monster?

If so, welcome to Avenue Q. You’ll fit in just fine.

BrassNeck Theatre’s current musical offering centres on an unlikely collection of dissatisfied characters (from monsters to out- of-work comedians, to 80s child star Gary Coleman), looking to move forward in their careers, their love lives, and even, if they possibly can, find their purpose in life.

With the slick production now synonymous with BrassNeck Theatre and the direction of Royston Bayfield, Avenue Q presents a combination of puppets and crudity to create (for those of us old enough to remember it) an adult Sesame Street.

The show’s loveable characters are created by a stunning cast. Gemma Durkin’s performance as Kate Monster is superb.

Her vocals are uplifting and I felt moved by her rendition of There’s A Fine, Fine Line – no mean feat when sharing the stage with a felt doll.

The character of Lucy, also played by Gemma, provides the perfect opportunity for her to show off her vocal range as well as her versatility.

Equally strong is Tom Kyle’s portrayal of Princeton. Tom also plays Rod.

The seamless transitions from one character to the next, as well as the progression in the character of Rod, are both to be applauded.

Among the other residents of Avenue Q, you’ll meet Christmas Eve (Emily Taylor) and Brian (Andrew Walton), both of whom give very strong performances.

Emily’s lovely performance of The More You Ruv Someone is a highlight and Andrew’s comic timing is sure to make you giggle.

Naomi Hurtault takes on the challenge of Gary Coleman (complete with catchphrase ‘What you talkin’ ‘bout, Willis?’) and gives a confident performance that tackles some tricky vocals with ease.

Richard Lloyd has the unenviable task of controlling two-handed puppets with a number of other cast members, yet this is handled skilfully and Richard gives a comic portrayal of Nicky and a brashly endearing rendition of Trekkie Monster.

Worth a special mention are Ben Tomlinson and Nicky Burrows. While these actors had smaller roles and are often found switching from character to character as the need arose, the skill with which they did this gives the show a professional edge.

The greatest compliment I can pay is that often I didn’t realise such a transition had taken place. Having said this, both actors are perfectly capable of making their presence felt when necessary – the portrayal of the Bad Idea Bears brings (even more) hilarity to the show.

Despite the unique nature of the acting required, the characters are no less engaging and, to my surprise, I soon found myself touched by the monsters, commiserating with their mistakes and celebrating their successes.

Instead of the puppets seeming like accessories to the actors, the actors became simply extensions of the puppets, a testament to the puppetry of the cast.

The set, costumes and lighting are all of a high standard.

Windows open to reveal the chintzy granny-chic of Kate Monster’s front room and Christmas Eve’s dress lights up (I can’t resist this) like a Christmas tree.

The band, under MD Cath Sweet, perform to a very high standard.

It’s a shame that at times their volume seemed to overpower the singers. However this was rare and quickly put to rights.

This production is set to be another in a long line of successful shows from BrassNeck.

Tickets are still available from the box office on 0113 250 5011, and while possibly not suited for children, this musical is certainly one for the childish among us.

I will certainly be revisiting Avenue Q. It runs until Saturday.

Charlotte King