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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"><b><br></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"><b><br></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"><b><span style="color:rgb(204,0,0)"></span><br>
</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"><b><br></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"><b>AVENUE Q, X-rated fun at
Cain Park</b> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Roy Berko</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Palatino">(Member,
American Theatre Critics Association, Cleveland Critics Circle)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">What can be said about a
delightful, thought provoking, Tony award winning, <i style>Sesame Street</i> for adults?<span style>
</span>How about, its fun and you should go see it!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">AVENUE Q, a production
now on stage at Cain Parks Alma Theatre, is an often hilarious and heartfelt
story about Princeton, a bright-eyed college grad who comes to New York with
his hopes, little money, and a trusting soul.<span style> </span>He moves onto Avenue Q, a place populated by weird and wonderful
characters that are part puppets and part human.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:#262626">Through song, dance and humor we
follow Princeton as he and his new found group of twenty-something friends,
struggle to find jobs, dates, but most importantly, their ever-elusive, purpose
in life.<span style> </span>Among others, theres Kat
Monster, Christmas Eve, Trekkie Monster, and Gary Coleman, all searching for
purpose and making commentary on education, politics, human sexuality, and life
in general.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:#262626"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:#262626">Winner of the triple crown of
TonysBest Musical, Best Score and Best Bookthe show has music and lyrics by
Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, and book by Jeff Whitty.<span style> </span>The </span><span style="font-family:Palatino">satire
is high, as represented by such songs as<i style>
It Sucks to be Me</i>, <i style>What Do You Do
with a B.A. in English?</i>, <i style>Everyones a
Little Bit Racist</i>, <i style>The Internet is
for Porn</i>, and <i style>Im not Wearing
Underwear Today</i>.<span style> </span>Doesnt sound
like the score from they typical musical theatre piece?<span style> </span>Well, this is not the typical musical
theatre script or score.</span><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:#262626"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">The Cain Park production,
under the wise direction of Buss Borski, milks the script for all it is
worth.<span style> </span>The characterizations are generally
clear, the staging crisp, songs are mostly well sung, most of the actors are
easily understood, the orchestra backs up rather than drowns out the singers,
and the dancing is delightful. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">The wonderful puppet
designs and fabrication are a local effort, executed by Terry Pieritz and Russ
Borski, with the aid from puppet consultant Larry Nehring.<span style> </span>After a while the stuffed-beings and their
live partners meld into single beings.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Cherubic faced Jesse
Markowitz is adorable as Princeton.<span style>
</span>He has a wonderful singing voice, moves well, and lights up the stage
with his effervescent smile, twinkling eyes, and believable presentation.<span style> </span>His rendition of <i style>Purpose</i> is endearing.<span style>
</span>This is one very talented young man!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Patty Lohr gives a nice quality
to Kate Monster. Her drunk scene is delightful. Sean Szaller adds humor as
Nicky.<span style> </span>John Paul Boukis, with his
huge eyes flashing and high-pitched voice of fear, is nothing short of
sensational as the closeted Rod.<span style>
</span>Todd Hancock, as the porn addicted Trekkie Monster, almost steals the
show.<span style> </span>Michelle Berkowitz and
Zachary Lamb are properly mischievous as the Girl and Boy Bad Idea Bears.<span style> </span>Dan DiCello (Brian) makes for a good,
bad stand-up comedian. <span style> </span>Joanna May
Hunkins personifies every kids nightmare as Mrs. T, the kindergarten teacher.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Be aware, if you are a
prude, that there is a vivid sex scene (yes, puppets having intercourse), lots
of four-letter words, and some unpolitically-correct stereotyping.<span style> </span>For the rest of us, those scenes
and language, just add to the overall delightful outlandishness of the
production.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">(The show is dedicated to
the memory of Paul Gurgol, who was to co-direct the show but died shortly
before the start of rehearsals.)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:<span style> </span>The award winning AVENUE Q, Sesame
Street for adults, gets a well-honed production at Cain Park.<span style> </span>Show highlights include spot-on
performances by Jesse Markowitz, John Paul Boukis and Todd Hancock.<span style> </span>This is a must see for the more liberal
minded.</span></i><i style><span style="font-family:Palatino"></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">Tickets for
AVENUE Q, which runs through July 1 at Cain Parks Alma Theater can be obtained
by calling 216-371-3000 or going on line to <a href="http://www.cainpark.com/"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none">www.cainpark.com</span></a>.</span></p><p style="color:rgb(204,0,0)" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"><br>
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:rgb(204,0,0)"></span><br><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"></span><span style="font-family:Palatino"></span></p>