Avenue Q Review: The Puppets are onto Something
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*What do you do with a B.A. in English?* You write a review about the West-End return of [*Avenue Q*](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/musical/avenue-q-tickets). The Tony award winning monster-musical is back on the block after 15 years. Without feeling completely victimised, it’s easy to see why the comeback is so necessary.
We follow the story of Princeton, a fresh English graduate looking to start his new life, full of opportunity and hope, he takes off to New York making his way through the alphabet of blocks to land on Q. With low rent prices and a child-star handy man, played by the hilarious **Dionne Ward-Anderson** (Previously seen in [SIX](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/musical/six-london-vaudeville-theatre-tickets)); what more could you possibly want?
Princeton, already laid off a day before starting his new job, faces off with the looming existential question that has faced humanity for centuries; what is my purpose? These philosophical questions of adding meaning to one’s life whilst trying to pay the bills, is much more digestible with puppets singing about it.
Whilst existentialism is an evergreen topic, this revival inevitably brought on nods to AI, OnlyFans, Trump and more. Digital screens between scenes kept the laughs rolling in, with the tone of WikiHow videos on how to do life; get a degree, start a job, earn money, lose the majority of that money to Big Sam, and try to go about your day. With the new nods, came the old gags, [‘Everyone is a Little Bit Racist’](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/news/avenue-q-songs) and the character Lucy The Slut, which may or may not go down well with a British audience in the current climate of 2026.
I applaud the cast for taking on such a demanding show, not only were vocals pitch perfection, the characterisation of the puppets made the characters all the more loveable. The audience’s heart went out to Rod and Nicky, the unlikely duo of friends to roommates to an unrequited love story. The sickeningly talented **Emily Benjamin** (as seen in *Bat Out of Hell* and the alternate Sally Bowles in [*Cabaret*](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/musical/cabaret-london-tickets)) carried the storyline with often two characters dialogue overlapping as Lucy the Slut and Kate Monster, as well as the phenomenal **Noah Harrison** taking on both roles as Rod and Princeton. With the doubling up of characters, it was hard to not be blown away.
This is the perfect show to reflect on your mid-20s crisis, you might think it sucks to be you but don’t worry, life gets easier when you realise we’re all feeling the same. You’re not special! See, less fun when a puppet is not singing it right?
*[Avenue Q](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/musical/avenue-q-tickets)* is playing at the [Shaftesbury Theatre](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/shaftesbury-theatre-london) until 29 August. Book your tickets today.