After enjoying Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog’s bit at the 84th annual Academy Awards (as well as the Oscar winning song from The Muppets film, maybe you’re in the mood for some live Muppet action. Indeed, these wonderful creatures from Jim Henson’s workshop are all the more amazing when you can enjoy them live. The Muppets have been working consistently since the 1950s!
Of course, the Muppets from Sesame Street are “official” Muppet canon, while the rebellious puppets from Avenue Q have sort of been disowned by the Henson team so that they can do their thing without worrying about politically correct dialog.
The Avenue Q puppets are actually parodies of Henson’s Muppets, specifically some very well known characters on Sesame Street, like Cookie Monster and Bert and Ernie. More to the point, Avenue Q is a wicked little commentary on the values of Sesame Street; if you will, a cynical rebuttal of all the promises Sesame Street made. Avenue Q features Muppet-like characters that live in a sort of collaborative misery, barely tolerating other humans and puppets who co-exist. In the Avenue Q production, you can hear such hilarious and yet very truthful songs such as “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist”, “What Do You Do with a B.A. in English?”, and “It Sucks to Be Me.”
Meanwhile, Sesame Street is keeping things wholesome with its productions of 123 Imagine, Elmo Makes Music and Elmo’s Super Heroes. At the Sesame Street Live touring shows, you and your kids can expect performances by all your favorites such as Big Bird, Bert and Ernie, Oscar the Grouch, Cookie Monster and of course, that prima donna Elmo.
Naturally, Sesame Street caters to a younger and learning audience, while Avenue Q appeals to somewhat jaded adults that don’t mind adult humor and cynical observations about life. Ironically enough, Avenue Q might be an educational show to adults who are feeling a bit angst-ridden about the whole midlife crisis thing.
Either way, what better way to cheer you up for spring then enjoying a live Muppet show? You can buy Avenue Q tickets or Sesame Street now!
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