At Town Hall, a topnotch cast brings the naughty musical to life.

Avenue Q is not family-friendly — a brief glance at the musical’s plot summary confirms it. Additional warnings are posted on signs around the lobby of Littleton Town Hall Arts Center along with more specific promises of coarse language, puppet sexuality, racial and cultural insensitivity and adult themes. In case the audience still isn’t convinced, the theatre makes one last-ditch effort before the show when a disembodied voice quips, “If you find yourself seated next to a child, that child’s parent might be shitty.”

The musical follows Princeton (Tim Howard), a recent college grad and puppet, as he navigates adulthood, attempts to find his purpose and reflects on what’s actually possible with an English degree in a quirky New York City neighborhood on Avenue Q. He falls in love, develops new friendships and learns to take life one step at a time. Also, child actor Gary Coleman (Asya Toney) is his landlord.

Along with typical life lessons, Princeton decides racism is inevitable and has deeply graphic sex onstage through songs “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist” and “You Can Be as Loud as the Hell You Want (When You’re Making Love).” The production is essentially Sesame Street meets Euphoria.

With music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx and book by Jeff Whitty, Avenue Q took Broadway by storm in 2004. The musical won three Tony Awards, including Best Musical (beating Wicked, which is extremely high praise for a raunchy puppet show), Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score.

Photo: RDGPhotography

Standout performances

Under Matthew R. Kepler’s direction, Town Hall’s production connects real-life struggles with childlike playfulness. Cass Dunn’s Kate Monster (Princeton’s love interest) is a delightful ray of sunshine with starry-eyed passion and a bright voice. Dunn doubles as Lucy the Slut, a ridiculously busty blonde with garish makeup, large hoop earrings and a hot pink feather boa. While Kate Monster is kind and thoughtful, Lucy the Slut only cares about sex, as highlighted in her hilarious pole dancing routine. Dunn masterfully captures each character’s essence, even while sometimes voicing both characters in the same scene.

The story revolves around Princeton and his mission to find a purpose backed by zero work ethic. He has sweet, awkward moments with Kate Monster, but he’s exceptionally self-involved. His character feels two-dimensional, and it’s hard to root for him to succeed. Howard excels in his second role as closeted, uptight Republican Rod. He has a lovely emotional moment during “Fantasies Come True” where he dreams about being with his roommate Nicky (Patrick J. Clarke).

Kim Egan creates memorable scenes as Christmas Eve, a Japanese immigrant and therapist who takes on her neighbors’ problems. Egan is hilarious and insightful, masterfully balancing ridiculousness with realness. Hats off to costume designer Jessie Page for creating Egan’s wedding look: a gaudy light-up dress with a massive golden star on her head like a Christmas tree. The getup is contrasted by her husband Brian (Brandon Jesús Lopez) in khaki cargo shorts and trainers.

Fiona Wohlfarth is the show’s MVP for successfully puppeteering a multitude of characters. She also garnered significant laughs in her brief scenes as Mrs. T, Kate Monster’s bitchy boss.

Cass Dunn plays Kate Monster as well as Lucy the Slut. | Photo: RDGPhotography

Solid production

Scenic designer Michael R. Duran creates a whimsical setting with a rundown yet charming row of apartments. A scrim with the city skyline painted across it partially conceals the live band. The action takes place primarily on the street – which becomes different apartments with new set pieces – while some puppets and people move in and out of the buildings. Innovative chair and bed designs allow the puppets to slide in between the foreground and background, so they seemingly sit on their own.

The whole theatre space is well utilized. Even screens on either side of the stage add to the comedy. For instance, when Princeton panics about committing to a relationship, the screens play an animation of a larger-than-life Kate Monster in a wedding dress towering over a burning Avenue Q.

In the lobby, audience members can answer Princeton’s ultimate question “What is your purpose?” on colorful slips of paper. Some of the anonymous responses are posted in the lobby next to the actors’ headshots. One person wrote that they wanted to create joy. With dedicated actors earning consistent boisterous laughs, this show definitely achieves just that.