Avenue Q - (Preview) - Open Sesame Street

The piece is unique in that puppets are the main characters. If you have seen the posters all over London, you will note a clear likeness between the X rated puppets here and the ones in Sesame Street. No coincidence as Robert Lopex and Jeff Marx originally used the hit kids' TV show as their main inspiration. As you sit down to watch this highly original small scale show, you may think like me that the end result may end up being a clever gimmick with no heart or soul. Thankfully you will be proved wrong as I was. Avenue Q follows the lives of some extraordinarily richly written characters.

There is Kate Monster (Julie Atherton) a loveable but feisty teaching assistant who longs to have a class and a guy all of her own. Princeton (Jon Robyns) is her love interest; a guy who is at a crossroads in his life. He misses his university days and wonders where it all went wrong. Nicky (Simon Lipkin) and Rod (Jon Robyns again) live together but they are not gay. Or at least Nicky isn't but he's okay if Rod decides he is! Brian (Sion Lloyd) and Christmas Eve (Ann Harada) live together on Av Q and provide listening ears for all the others. Gary Coleman, (Giles Terera) one time child star now finds himself cleaning up the rubbish from non celebs. How the mighty have fallen. Finally Lucy The Slut needs no real introduction.

Sending up not only children's' TV highlighting its patronising tone this show also cleverly sends up Broadway, political correctness, government policies, the American dream and so much more. Swipes at the Bush administration are evident but this is not a message driven production; it's main aim is to make you laugh and it achieves that throughout its running time.

Of the songs – the hilarious "If you Were Gay" impresses and is sung with a real mischievous sense of fun by both Simon Lipkin and Jon Robyns. "Mix Tape" sung with poignancy by Julie Atherton works as the sentiments behind it are so familiar to the audience. After all, who hasn't produced a compilation tape in order to try and woo someone via the song titles? "Internet Is For Porn" is another excellent number as it has the audience nodding in recognition.

This highly original production is so much more than a few funny songs though. It has real heart and the cast nail this aspect of the show surprisingly well. I say surprisingly because as an audience member you do not expect these puppets to move you to tears. One scene featuring Kate with a blind fold on as Princeton gives her a dream present is a great example as it is so movie-like in its delivery. You forget these are puppets as you shed a tear.

The book is superb but so are the performances across the board. The actors are not only puppeteers but they also act out their characters facial expressions and phyisical appearances. Atherton transforms herself from savvy Kate to luscious Lucy – a femme fatale without the brains to carry out her scheming to the bitter end. Her singing voice is beautiful and her accent impeccable. Ann Harada – an original Broadway cast member plays fast and loose with the 'Oriental' stereotype that we see in Hollywood movies every day. Simon Lipkin steals many scenes as the porn loving Trekkie Monster and loyal friend Nicky. His athleticism is to be applauded. Jon Robyns is sure to develop a fan base as he is so endearing. Whether it is geek Rod or the loveable loser Princeton – he adds light and shade to every song or piece of rich dialogue. As Gary Coleman- Giles Terera takes every joke and plays it to the hilt – his "Whatchyou Talkin' About Willis" line took me back in time instantly.

Like Jerry Springer the Opera this show is for the faint hearted as there are some risqué scenes which you will not find in your typical Broadway show. Lucy for example appears on stage with one breast hanging out, "Internet Porn" has some wonderfully wicked lines and there is a puppet on puppet sex scene which out does "Team America" for sheer inventiveness. But as there is much more than shock factor on display here, none of this material truly offends as beneath all of this is a show with a heart the size of The Great White Way.

I cannot compare this production with the US version. All I can say is that I will definitely be making a return visit to Avenue Q again soon. "There Is Life Outside Your Apartment" and none more lively or as exhilarating as this.