Across the East River and far, far away from the rosy Upper West Side of Manhattan’s Sesame Street is where you’ll find Avenue Q. It’s New York City’s other puppet enclave and home to an eclectic community of raunchy, insecure, debt-saddled, slightly racist, porn-addicted and, most of all, foul-mouthed puppets.
While often overshadowed by its more widely known counterpart, Avenue Q is the subject of its own celebrated show and residents from the neighbourhood are quick to point our that their performance far exceeds that learn-your-ABCs crap Big Bird tries to pass off as show business (we kid — Big Bird’s the best).
Together, the residents have come together to produce the eponymously named Avenue Q, a three time Tony Award-winning musical based on the harsh and hilarious realities of adult life and the stark differences between those living the high life on Sesame Street and those living life on the other side of the plush tracks.
With more than 6,000 performances on and off-Broadway since 2003, you no longer need to travel all the way to the Big Apple to learn what life is like on Avenue Q thanks to the people at Foote in the Door Productions, who have graciously invited the cast to bring the show to Edmonton’s Theatre Servus Credit Union at La Cité Francophone from May 31 to June 8.
Having such big name celebrities all the way up here in Edmonton meant we just had to pick their stuffed brains before opening night. So, we sat down with two of the shows’ titular characters — adult entertainment enthusiast Trekkie Monster and the star of the show, Princeton — for a Q&A ahead of their Edmonton debut.
A word of warning, though, as with everything Avenue Q related, this interview contains mature themes and explicit language.
Edify: Hi Princeton and Trekkie. Welcome to Edmonton and thanks for making time in your busy rehearsal schedule to speak with us.
Princeton: Gee whiz, it’s great to be here!
Edify: How was your flight in from New York? Trekkie, did you manage to survive the seven hour journey without WiFi?
Trekkie: Flight good. Girl next to me wear short skirt. Then, she ask move for some reason? Then me have more room. So, no WiFi, no problem.
Edify: Gee, I can’t possibly imagine why she would do that, Trekkie. Glad you both made it, though. Is this your first time in Edmonton?
Trekkie: This first time in Edmonton. Me stay in theme room at Fantasyland Hotel. Me ask for Polynesian Room, but end up in Igloo. Me never have Igloo fantasy before. Me book next holiday here.
Edify: Erm. Okay. Well, I’m glad you’re enjoying the, um, amenities. What about you, Princeton? I hear a fellow cast member has a girlfriend who lives in Canada and you guys actually sing a song about it. Surely, you’ve visited before now?
Princeton: Boy oh boy, it’s my first time here. I thought I’d miss home — you know, the sights and sounds of New York City, the classic smell of all that hot garbage. But I don’t! It actually smells worse here! Plus, everyone I’ve met so far is always complaining so I feel right at home.
Edify: Maybe you’re just spending time in the wrong parts of town? Not everywhere is smelly. Have you gone to see the sights? Or taken a stroll along our beautiful Legislature grounds or visited Trekkie at our world-famous mall?
Princeton: Gosh, I tried to go to the mall, but I don’t have a car. Instead I stuck around downtown.
Trekkie: Me walk around mall. Security tell me stay away from La Senza.
Edify: Well, you know, we have mall security for a reason, Trekkie. But all joking aside, you two, along with your cast mates, are here to perform your award winning musical, Avenue Q. Can you tell me a little bit about the performance?
Princeton: You’re probably familiar with Sesame Street, but that’s for dumbass kids. Avenue Q is like that, but better. It’s by adults and for adults about our problems. Sure, it’s nice to know your ABCs, but what idiot needs a eight-foot bird to explain that? Our show won the Tony Award in 2004 and it still holds up today, even if some might consider it “problematic.”
Edify: With such a big list of accomplishments under your belt, it’s a real gift to have you come so far north when you could be playing sold-out shows in London, New York or Los Angeles. Can you tell us a bit about what this performance of Avenue Q is all about?
Princeton: Well, geez, I’d say this show is really about real life. Life can get really hard and get you down — just look at Fox News. But whether our R rating stands for rough, randy or just really fun, we’re here to make you feel seen for the person — warts and all — that you are.
Edify: So, that’s where musical numbers like “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist” and “It Sucks To Be Me” come from, huh? What’s it like to go from working with a Broadway ensemble cast to the folks at Foote in the Door Productions? Has there been a period of adjustment while you get to know your human counterparts?
Trekkie: Most humans OK to work with. Me therapist say work on strategy to deal with them. Whenever problem, me have internet in dressing room for… *cough* stress management.
Edify: I really regret shaking your hand now.
Trekkie: What, you never hear of Purell?
Edify: Unlike New York City, Edmonton’s not really home to a large puppet community, but we do have a few mascots living in our city. Have you had a chance to connect with Hunter while you’ve been here? I know he’s around town because the Oilers are on a playoff run.
Trekkie: Mascots are cultural appropriation. Very offensive. You keep wearing fur and me start wearing pants. See how you like it!
Edify: Before I let you go, I do want to ask one more thing: For so many of us up here in Canada, Sesame Street is likely the only place in NYC we’re familiar with. Can you tell those of us who’ve never spent time in your neck of the woods what message you’re trying to bring to the audience?
Princeton: Golly, I think you can take a lot of messages from our show, but at the very least, it’ll help you realize it’s OK to accept yourself and your flaws. It’s OK not to know. It might seem like everyone around you has it together, but they might not have a a clue, either.
Edify: Thanks, Princeton. Thanks, Trekkie.
Accept yourself and all your flaws — or just have a laugh at some puppets’ expense — until June 8.
