Avenue Q cast back from Singapore stint

Avenue Q ended its successful Singapore run with its Filipino cast getting rave notices from critics for their superb performances at the Esplanade Theater.

Back in the Philippines for a well-deserved rest, the cast reportedly received offers from Singapore theater producers to perform in their upcoming projects.

Led by Miss Saigon veteran Carla Guevara, the members of the cast displayed their individual talents in tackling what critics in Singapore described as extraordinary and difficult roles.   

A bit raunchy but hilarious, the Tony award-winning Broadway musical is a parody of Sesame Street featuring human puppets, monster puppets and humans as characters.

Unlike Sesame Street, Avenue Q is x-rated because it shows puppets performing sexual acts and using foul language.

Reviewer Sharmila Billot said “Avenue Q is riotous fun. It’s also very real in terms of dealing with the harsh reality of life. A lot of people would easily relate to the story.”

Presented by the Singapore Repertory Theatre and VizPro Entertainment in association with Atlantis Productions, the audience initially found it strange to see at first puppets with humans walking around the stage, giving them their voices.

“One doesn’t know who to concentrate on in the beginning. The furry characters’ action or the puppeteers’ as the puppeteers are equally funny with their facial expressions,” Billot observed.

“After some time, the weirdness passes, and by then, the audience is into the highly entertaining show,” she added.

Billot declared that “all the performers were fantastic, particularly Carla Guevara, who stood out as the voices of Katie Monster and Lucy the Slut.”