by Laura Bloom Farber

The Revolution Stage Company has produced a winner with Avenue Q, the 2004 Tony award-winning musical comedy with a tuneful score by Robert Lopez (who went on to compose the music for the film Frozen) and Jeff Marx, and book by Jeff Whitty.  For those of you unfamiliar with this show, Avenue Q tells the story of a group of twenty-somethings and thirty-somethings living marginally in New York.  Although it was designed to resemble Sesame Street, using human actors and puppets operated and voiced by visible, black clad puppeteers, this is a musical for adults.  If you are likely to be offended by a scene featuring sexual acts performed by two pair of puppets, you might consider skipping this show.

James Owens has directed his talented cast of ten singing actors with good pacing and much humor.  While the entire cast consisting of Phylicia Mason, Christine Michele, Alisha Bates, Steve Giboney and Jana Giboney (husband and wife), Miguel Arballo, Kelly McDaniel, Samuel Moffatt and Joseph Portoles, each gave excellent performances, I would like to single out Patrick Wallace for his exceptional singing, acting, and general professionalism.  Although I would have preferred a live band over the pre-recorded score, the musical direction by Stephen Hulsey was very effective, especially in the group musical numbers.  

Avenue Q continues at Revolution Stage Company with 7:00 p.m. performances on Tuesday, January 16, Wednesday, January 17, Thursday, January 18, Tuesday, January 23, Wednesday, January 24, Thursday, January 25 and a 2:00 p.m. performance on Saturday, January 20. If this production had a rating, it would be rated “R”.

RSC is a 501(c)(3) entity dedicated to bringing revolutionary offerings to discerning Palm Springs audiences. For more information or to purchase tickets to Revolution’s plays or other events, go to the Web site, at www.RevolutionStageCompany.com. The theater is located at  611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs, in the same shopping center as the Palm Springs Revivals store.

The rest of Revolution’s 2023-24 offerings are as follows:

MID-CENTURY MODERNS returns January 19, playing weekends thru April 7.

AVENUE Q begins January 9 and runs through Jan. 25.

QUEER DUET plays January 15th.

WITCHLAND plays February 7 thru March 2.

THE WOMAN IN THE MIRROR plays March 8 thru 31.

MONDAY MONDAY, Joe Croyle's one-man musical about working with MAMA CASS ELLIOT, plays Monday, Jan. 22 @ 7 PM.

TRUMAN TALKS TENNESSEE, a one-man play by Broadway veteran JOEL VIG, plays on Mardi Gras 'Fat Tuesday,' Feb. 13 @ 7 PM

PIANO RIOT, a Broadway Sing-Along, alternately featuring musicians JEFF LESSER, JASON WEBER & RON PASS, every Saturday at 5 PM.

BILLIE! BACKSTAGE WITH LADY DAY plays weekends, April 12-21.