On Avenue Q and why it can make you feel…special…

We saw this fantastic show at The Lowry last night. For those not familiar with it, it’s Sesame Street. For adults. It’s difficult to put it any other way.

That concept works on so many more levels than you might first imagine, though. It’s not as basic as having puppets make racist jokes – although that does happen. And it goes beyond the puerility of making those same puppets have loud, energetic sex – although that definitely happens too.

But not only does Avenue Q use adult humour to parody a children’s format, it uses a child’s way of thinking to deal with everyday issues from a fresh angle. So through song, dance, puppetry and humour – traditionally tools for teaching literacy and numeracy to kids – grown-ups can learn about things like discrimination, unemployment and homophobia; perhaps even a little bit about the meaning of life.

I have yet to figure out the serious message behind this number, though…:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrjQi9cI6sI]