Avenue Q – Rockdale Musical Society

 When I saw Avenue Q on Broadway a few years ago, I had the feeling that the show would probably work better in a much smaller venue. Despite its critical and commercial success all over the world (it even beat Wicked to the Tony for Best Musical), it’s not your typical big Broadway blockbuster – it’s smaller, quirkier, more innovative and infinitely funnier. 

 Presented by:  Rockdale Musical SocietyVenue: Brighton Amateur Fisherman’s Association  Wednesday 14 September, 2011 When I saw Avenue Q on Broadway a few years ago, I had the feeling that the show would probably work better in a much smaller venue. Despite its critical and commercial success all over the world (it even beat Wicked to the Tony for Best Musical), it’s not your typical big Broadway blockbuster – it’s smaller, quirkier, more innovative and infinitely funnier. 
Watching Rockdale Musical Society’s production of Avenue Q confirmed my suspicions that this slightly left-of-centre, slightly raunchy, slightly controversial story plays out brilliantly in an intimate venue. 
Just one week before opening night, the cast and crew were kicked out of their original venue, the Rockdale Town Hall, due to an asbestos problem. So where could the cast and crew go? The Brighton Amateur Fishermen’s Association auditorium. It’s honestly the last place you’d expect to see a musical, but the crew has managed to transform this 1980’s Australiana-themed club auditorium into a chic little theatre. And somehow, it just works. 
Director Osman Kabbara had to re-block most of the show to make up for the significantly smaller stage and redesigned set (the original set was locked in the Town Hall). Everyone involved has had to ‘roll with the punches’, and have come out the other end with a wonderful production.
The dazzlingly talented cast play completely to the audience, who chew up every gag, every song and every touching moment. The audience ‘ooh’s and ‘aah’s, giving the production an almost pantomime type feeling.
Chris Malliate and Anita Margiotta are wonderful as the romantic leads, Princeton and Kate – both great actors with beautiful voices. Jonathon Holmes (pictured right), as Rod, is a clear audience favourite, but there’s really not a weak link anywhere in the cast.
Puppet director, Nicholas Lewis, has clearly done a great job. All the performers look perfectly comfortable with their puppets, and really make them come alive.The orchestra, under the guidance of Therese Doyle, plays vibrantly, capturing every diverse moment of the score perfectly.
It’s ironic that a show which uses puppets as its main characters is more human and more relatable than most other blockbusters from the past decade. Director Osman Kabbara has managed to find the perfect balance, capturing both the raucous comedy and underlying truths of the show. 
The only thing that reminds you that this is community theatre is the pure joy and excitement that amateur actors often bring to the stage. It seems to be almost a blessing that this production is such a short run. Everything feels fresh, exciting and brand new. Rockdale’s Avenue Q is rough, raw and all the more brilliant for it.