Avenue Q Reviews
Chicago Tribune- Recommended
"...Director L. Walter Stearns' production, crammed onto the Mercury's small stage, is by no means overburdened with new ideas and one surely does not have so full a sense of the community of misfits that were evoked so affectionately, and with such exquisite craft, in the original Broadway and touring versions. But this earnest and eager-to-please new production does have two significant qualities that make it very watchable."
Chicago Sun Times- Highly Recommended
"...Musical director Eugene Dizon leads the show’s terrific five-piece offstage band. Kevin Bellie has supplied the spirited choreography. And Alan Donahue’s set design not only captures the facades of buildings that have seen better days, but gives us a picture-perfect subway entrance, too."
Chicago Reader- Highly Recommended
"...L. Walter Stearns packs his production with adept quadruple threats (they sing, they act, they dance, and they work puppets). Jackson Evans earns lots of laughs as the hapless hero who finds himself all the way out on Avenue Q. But the heart of the show belongs to Adam Fane and Daniel Smeriglio, playing closeted knockoffs of Sesame Street's odd couple, Bert and Ernie."
Windy City Times- Highly Recommended
"...So if you've previously missed Avenue Q during its previous two touring stops or the local NightBlue Theater staging at Stage 773, rush now to see it at the Mercury. The real-life lessons in love and relationships presented Sesame Street-style ( complete with profanity and full puppet nudity ) is not only all-out hilarious, but extremely poignant and touching as well."
Time Out Chicago- Highly Recommended
"...Christine Bunuan absolutely murders Asian-American therapist Christmas Eve's dialectally challenged power number, "The More You Ruv Someone," while Daniel Smeriglio mops up as Nicky, Rod's roommate and unrequited crush. But this giggle-inducing comedy's whole cast nimbly avoids every potential crack in the sidewalk-commiserating with us over modern life's clouds as a method of temporarily sweeping them away."
ShowBizChicago- Highly Recommended
"...For Mercury Theater’s new Broadway quality production, director L. Walter Stearns has created his best work to date. With a cast that innately understands the actor/puppet relationship and a technical team that lets the show seamlessly unfold, this is a production that could run for years."
ChicagoCritic- Highly Recommended
"...Jackson Evans , as Princeton and Leah Morrow, as Kate Monster were among my favorites from a cast of accomplished troupe of talents that sang well, delivered laughs and won the hearts of the audience. Adam Fane, as the flaming queen Rob was a hoot! Avenue Q is a light-hearted, yet sophisticated musical that speaks to a generation struggling to find their purpose. Along the way, Avenue Q thoroughly entertains. Caution: due to the adult sexy content, Avenue Q is not for children yet is absolutely a "must see" for adults."
Chicago Stage and Screen- Highly Recommended
"...Mercury Theater Chicago again has a real winner with their production of Avenue Q playing through June 29, 2014. A racy cross between South Park and Sesame Street, Avenue Q is a modern musical focusing on a group of unique 20-somethings making their way in the big city, seeking their purpose in life. Avenue Q features Music and Lyrics by Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez(co-creator of The Book of Mormon and recent Academy Award winner for FROZEN) and a Book by Jeff Whitty. Director L. Walter Sterns explains that the real magic of the show is when the audience "forgets that the puppets are nothing more than fur and felt and start to believe they have a mind, heart and soul." Although Avenue Q addresses humorous adult issues, it is similar to a beloved children's show: a place where puppets are friends, monsters are good and life lessons are learned."
Around The Town Chicago- Highly Recommended
"...Try to imagine "Sesame Street on Crack" and you will get a little insight into what "Avenue Q" the musical, now onstage at The Mercury Theater is. A rip roaring , laugh a minute satire on the characters of the famous "Sesame Street" that many of today's theater audiences grew up learning from. Well, this "very ADULT" version, continues to teach us, but perhaps topics that are just a bit different and perhaps a might naughtier.With a book written by Jeff Whitty and music and lyrics by Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez ( the same guys who brought us "The Book of Mormon") we are looking at a very "South Park type of entertainment that will take your mind off your day. In fact, you may find yourself being taken away from the week- it is that funny."
Chicago Theatre Review- Highly Recommended
"...Blessed with a gifted cast, a talented musical director and a script that will delight and titillate audiences with its bawdy, adult humor (warning: this is not a children's show despite its cast of puppets), Mr. Stearns has once again worked his magic on Southport Avenue. This show, with its wise humor, irreverent situations and full frontal puppet nudity is sure to become the hottest ticket in Chicago this Spring."
Chicagoland Theater Reviews- Highly Recommended
"...L. Walter Stearns directs with the surest sense of pace, the scenes proceeding with a zesty natural flow that draws a continuous giggle from the audience. Presumably Stearns is responsible for the casting, which couldn’t be better. This is not a dancing show but Kevin Bellie’s spritely choreography still embellishes the action. Musical director Eugene Dizon conducts the spot-on small orchestra. A special shout-out goes to puppetry coach Kevin Noonchester and puppet designer Russ Walko who make the show the triumph it is. And going back to first causes, credit Robert Lopez who helped conceive the original 2003 show and wrote the music and droll lyrics. Lopez later co-created “Book of Mormon” and wrote the music for the movie “Frozen.” He must be the richest man in the solar system by now."
Chicago Theater Beat- Highly Recommended
"...Mercury Theater gets it right: despite its very adult content, Avenue Q leaves its audience with warm fuzzies. Thanks to the excellent production team, musicians and cast, this show is not to be missed. I attended Avenue Q with a friend who, despite being a big fan of the soundtrack, had never seen the musical live. Half the fun was listening to her delighted squeals, giggles and claps, as – to paraphrase a song from the show – her fantasy came true."