A guide to all the songs in 'Avenue Q'

The Tony Award-winning musical – and its puppets! – is back in the West End for a special 20th-anniversary run.

Summary

• Award-winning musical Avenue Q is returning to the West End
• This major London revival celebrates the show's 20th anniversary
• The hilarious songs are by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx

The rudest, yet somehow also most heart-warming, puppets in musical theatre are back in town as the award-winning musical Avenue Q returns to the West End. The show is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a major revival at London’s Shaftesbury Theatre, reuniting key members of the production’s original Broadway creative team.

This brilliantly irreverent Sesame Street parody follows college graduate Princeton as he moves into an apartment on New York’s Avenue Q, meeting a host of other struggling young adults in the process. The musical tackles a host of resonant themes, including sexual identity, while also delighting in shocking audiences with its racy humour.

Get to know the fantastic songs of Avenue Q, written by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, ahead of your trip.

Book Avenue Q tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

“The Avenue Q Theme”

We get a Sesame Street-style intro song that immediately sets the tone for this grown-up version. The characters sing about their challenges, such as having to pay bills while earning a pittance. It’s both jaunty and hilarious.

“What Do You Do with a B.A. in English?” / “It Sucks to Be Me”

That’s the lament of our protagonist Princeton, who has spent four years studying but has no idea what he’s going to do with his life. We also meet his new neighbours, introducing us to characters like lonely kindergarten teacher Kate Monster, aspiring comedian Brian, bickering roommates Rod and Nicky, Brian’s Japanese fiancée Christmas Eve, and child actor-turned-landlord Gary Coleman. They argue over whose life “sucks” the most.

“If You Were Gay”

In this funny but sweet song, Nicky tries to help the deeply closeted Rod come out, reassuring him that he would still love and support him. But Rod still feels unable to say that he’s gay, leaving them at an impasse.

“Purpose”

Princeton is having a tough time: he’s just lost his new job. But finding a penny minted in the year of his birth feels like a good sign, and he cheers himself up with this bouncy tune about finding his purpose, and finding himself.

“Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist”

After Princeton offends Kate by asking if she and Trekkie – who are both monsters – are related, the gang sing this provocative song about how everyone has race-related blind spots and makes assumptions.

“The Internet Is for Porn”

Avenue Q really was ahead of its time! Kate is excited about getting to teach a class solo for the first time and plans to focus on the benefits of the internet. But Trekkie Monster constantly interjects to point out that most people actually use the internet to surf for porn, to Kate’s horror.

“Mix Tape”

The adorable romance between Princeton and Kate begins in earnest when he makes her a mix tape. But she’s confused when she sees that all the tracks on one side are about friendship – then discovers the other side is about love. Finally, Princeton settles the question by asking her out.

“I’m Not Wearing Underwear Today” / “Special”

The group all go to the Around the Clock Café, where Brian tanks with his underwear-themed stand-up set. However, the next act wows everyone: seductive singer Lucy the Slut, with her purring cabaret number “Special”. Princeton is instantly smitten.

“You Can Be as Loud as the Hell You Want When You’re Makin’ Love”

Otherwise known as the infamous puppet sex number! Kate and Princeton’s date finishes with the pair in bed, and Gary Coleman cheerfully sings that you’re allowed to be as loud as you want – he doesn’t care if the neighbours complain.

“Fantasies Come True”

Rod hears Nicky call out his name in his sleep, and wonders if it’s a fantasy come true: does Nicky have feelings for him? Meanwhile, in a counterpoint, Princeton gives Kate his lucky penny, declaring his feelings for her. She is thrilled.

“My Girlfriend, Who Lives in Canada”

Christmas Eve and Brian decide to get married, and at the wedding, Nicky tells everyone that he thinks Rod is gay. A furious, defensive, panicked Rod sings this vaudevillian patter number about his supposed girlfriend who lives in Canada.

“There’s a Fine, Fine Line”

The first act ends on a deeply poignant note. Kate catches the bouquet which freaks out a commitment-phobic Princeton and he asks if they can be just friends. A heartbroken Kate sings this wistful ballad about the crucial difference between “love and a waste of your time”.

“There Is Life Outside Your Apartment”

Brian tries to coax a depressed Princeton out of his apartment. When he resists, the rest of the gang join in, extolling the (questionable!) virtues of the New York street. Unfortunately, he then strays into the path of the predatory Lucy.

“The More You Ruv Someone”

Kate is furious about Princeton hooking up with Lucy. Christmas Eve explains that her strong feelings mean she’s in love with him: in this instance, there’s a correlation between love and hate. Christmas Eve’s analogy gets increasingly disturbing, but hilarious.

“Schadenfreude”

Nicky is in a tough spot after Rod kicked him out of their apartment, and he’s now couch surfing. Gary admits that he derives some pleasure from seeing Nicky suffer, because it makes him glad that it’s not happening to him. The pair exchange other instances of schadenfreude and how it’s something we all need.

“I Wish I Could Go Back to College”

In a crazy turn of events, Lucy sabotages Kate’s meet-up with Princeton at the Empire State Building, and when Kate hurls the lucky penny off the viewing platform in anger, it hits Lucy and knocks her out. In the aftermath of this drama, Princeton longs to return to his simpler student days, as do Kate and Nicky.

“The Money Song”

Princeton has a light bulb moment when he gives the begging Nicky some money – and it makes him feel great. They both decide to help others: Nicky will help Rod find a boyfriend, and Princeton will help Kate raise the money to start her monsters-only school.

“School for Monsters”

Trekkie Monster recalls being bullied when he was at school, and happily donates $10 million to the cause – quipping that “in a volatile market, the only stable investment is porn”. It’s a weird but cheering intersection of two very different storylines.

“There’s a Fine, Fine Line (Reprise)” / “What Do You Do with a B.A. in English? (Reprise)”

Everyone gets a happy ending. Seeing another clueless newcomer, Princeton realises his purpose is to put everything he’s learnt into a Broadway show, as guidance. Kate gets to open her school. Rod comes out and gets a boyfriend. Lucy becomes a born-again Christian. And Princeton and Kate reunite.

“For Now”

In the final number, the group counsels Princeton that most people are never certain of their purpose – and that’s OK. He’s doing well for now: he has love, he has friendship. “Everything in life is only for now.”

Main photo credit: The Avenue Q puppets (Photo courtesy of the production). Inset: Avenue Q on Broadway (Photo by Carol Rosegg)