Avenue Q,"" Broadway's 2004 Tony Award winner for Best Musical, is coming to Madison's Overture Center this Tuesday through Sunday, Oct. 26. This fast-paced musical that features both humans and puppets on one stage touches on issues that resonate with young adults.
""It's pretty surreal at times, but definitely interesting how fast you get used to working with the puppets and the actors as opposed to just human actors. They're pretty lifelike,"" said Cole Porter, who plays Brian on the play's tour.
Through non-puppet characters like Brian, ""Avenue Q"" portrays many of the problems newly graduated 20-somethings feel when they leave a collegiate atmosphere. Porter describes Brian as a ""not-funny comedian"" living with his fiancée, Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve has two master's degrees yet is unemployed. Through their trials, tribulations and relationships with friends and neighbors, the audience is taken on a ride through heightened emotions and rapid changes.
Porter, who also played Brian in the Las Vegas production, explained exactly how ""Avenue Q's"" fast pace parallels the audience's lives.
""I think the show itself, even being in the genre of musical theater, moves so quickly. It is so in tune with our society,"" Parker said.
He went on to say, ""Kids in college now, especially with the economy the way that it is, are going to look at this play and go, 'Yeah, it is pretty scary. I'm going to graduate and I'm going to jump off the boat and I'm going to keep a few of these things in mind while I go out there.'""
Porter understands the challenges that the current generation faces.
""['Avenue Q'] brings to the forefront how you should definitely grasp the reality of life ... it's not all lollipops and rainbows, but even in the tough times, you have to remember that it could probably get worse,"" Porter added.
Even though ""Avenue Q"" portrays mostly tough times, it does offer some solutions, most notably to just relax. By looking at a specific situation through a larger lens, it becomes easier to see the ""big picture,"" though it may not be evident right away.
So, until it does happen, Porter advises you to ""drink a lot. As much as possible. With a yellow and a blue fuzzy bear.""
