TILTING their heads seductively, Kate Monster and her puppeteer assume their best come-hither look.

It is rather effective, even coming from a puppet.

They skip however what follows on from that sultry stare in their show, Avenue Q – a full frontal sex scene that leaves little to the imagination. It is just too early in the day for a demonstration.

“There was a lot of very private practice to get it right,” laughs Sarah Harlington; Kate, firmly set on her arm, seems to nod in agreement. “The nude puppet sex scene is quite graphic. You get to see all the furry bits. It’s hilarious.

“When you’ve got a puppet on your hand you get away with things you probably never really could.”

Kate and the gang of pesky puppets may look cute and fluffy but this is as far the Sesame Street likeness goes. They are unashamedly rude and crude.

Set in New York, the Tony-award winning musical follows Princeton, a bright-eyed English graduate who has just moved to Avenue Q. A tiny bank balance, the distraction of a busty Kate and a variety of weird friends lead him on a riotous journey of self-discovery.

Aside from sex, the show does not shy away from controversial themes running the gamut of race, politics, porn and homosexuality.

“It’s definitely not for children,” says Richard Lowe, who brings to life our hero, Princeton. “I think the fact that we use puppets definitely makes it less strange for us. Having sex on stage would be slightly more uncomfortable. “ The producers’ warnings have not stopped parents from venturing to the show toddlers in tow before beating a hasty retreat at the interval.

“In one venue we had some toddlers in the front row,” adds Stephen Arden who juggles stints as Trekkie Monster, an antisocial ‘Internet addict’, Nicky and the Bad Idea Bears. “We said to front of house ‘Do they know what they’re coming to see?’ “I thought, I’m not comfortable saying these profane things in front of children. But they stayed.

Sometimes you see parents and children at the start and then you look after the interval and yep, they’re gone.”

All novices, except for Richard who has dabbled in animal puppetry (this presented a whole host of different complications), they were put through their paces mentally and physically.

It takes a lot more than mouthing a few words and throwing in a wave now and then to breathe life into the synthetic pelts convincingly.

“We had four weeks of rehearsals - it was puppet boot camp,” admits Sarah.

“At first it feels like an alien on the end of your arm and after a while it becomes second nature. You discover all the time new things you can do: how to make them look excited, embarrassed or sad, or cross and angry. It’s a brand new skill. Now if I had an alter ego I think it would be a puppet because you can get away with so much stuff.”

“It’s like splitting your brain in two,” adds Richard. “You don’t just lip-sync every word, you move for every syllable which makes it a lot more tiring on the hand and every time you move you have to bob the puppet up and down which is a different rhythm to the way you’re speaking. It’s a lot harder than people give it credit for. “ You puppeteer at your own risk, as they painfully discovered. Handling the potty-mouthed hand-puppets requires more muscle and finger dexterity than one might suspect.

To ensure they stay sprain-free the trio receive physiotherapy every fortnight.

“After three weeks I thought my arms was going to fall off,” adds Sarah.

“It was a learning curve,” recalls Stephen. “It was very painful at first. The way you have to hold your arm and the way you operate the mouth using the thumb to do all the movements. It just got so painful I used to think ‘How am I going to be able to do for a whole show?’. We have to go physio every two weeks. We have had a few yoga lessons too.”

There have been the odd unfortunately-timed mishap, not least Kate’s wardrobe malfunction in the tricky post-coital scene.

“They’re given some clothes to cover themselves up but midway through Kate’s gown fell off so she was completely naked for this quite sensitive scene,” Richard adds with a chuckle. “We just had to carry on and Sarah made Kate cover herself with her arm. We made it through. It was very funny.”

Stephen has also broken a sweat juggling puppets and accidentally punching one a tad too hard on the nose. Thankfully everyone escaped unscathed.

“You’re not allowed to look at the puppet so you can’t see. And you think what I should do? But it was fine, the nose hadn’t come off. It’s the hardest job I’ve ever done. But I get paid to say all these profane things. It’s quite delightful.”

Avenue Q will run at the Wyvern Theatre from Tuesday, July 14 to Saturday 18. To book go to swindontheatres.co.uk or call 01793 524 481.

 

 

Puppets Q&A

Tell us about your childhood.

Kate Monster: I grew up outside New York, and it was always my dream to one day live in the Big Apple. And here I am! Avenue Q isn’t exactly Fifth Avenue, but it’s a start.

Princeton: I was a good, straight A student kinda kid. I studied hard, got into my first choice of college, and graduated with first class honours. So now I’m ready to take on the world! But I’m not too sure what happens now; what do you do with a BA in English?

Trekkie: Trekkie come from big Monster family with Monster brothers and sisters.

Tell us a secret about yourself.

Kate Monster: Well, don’t tell anyone, but I have a little crush on someone else on the street! Let’s just say he’s yellow with black hair, and is a bit of a dreamboat.

Princeton: Well… I sorta like one of my neighbours on Avenue Q! But I’m afraid I might have offended her the other day; I asked if she was related to Trekkie because they’re both Monsters. She said ‘why, do we all look the same to you?!’ Then we sang a song about how everyone’s a little bit racist, that was a giggle.

Trekkie Monster: Me know Cookie Monster when he just little kid. Trekkie’s big claim to fame!

What is your favourite song and why?

Kate Monster: My favourite song is a song I sing called It’s call ‘There’s a Fine, Fine Line’. It’s a very emotional song about how it’s sometimes a very fine line between being in love and being friends with somebody. It has some very high notes so I have to keep my emotions under control so I can hit them!

Princeton: My first song is called ‘Purpose’, and it’s all about me trying to find out what my calling is in life.

Trekkie Monster: Me favourite song called ‘The Internet is for Porn’! Trekkie get to sing whole song about favourite subject! Kate Monster no happy, because she think internet for other things. She have no idea!

Which film makes you cry every time?

Kate Monster: Titanic, every time! I practically know all the words. “I’ll never let go Jack!”. Princeton made me a mix tape the other day which included My Heart Will Go On. I thought that was so sweet!

Princeton: I don’t really cry at films. Oh apart from Marley and Me, that killed me!

Trekkie Monster: Girls Gone Wild parts 2, 5 and 7. Lucy the Slut star in all these films! Lucy make me cry, she beautiful actress, and beautiful lady!

What makes your blood boil?

Kate Monster: That good for nothing Lucy the Slut makes my blood boil, that’s for sure! She’s bad news if you ask me. She told me that she once tried dating a Monster, but it didn’t work out because she kept getting the fur stuck in her teeth. How rude!

Princeton: I don’t have any blood, it’s pretty much just cotton wool in here!

Trekkie Monster: When people disturb Trekkie when he... *ahem*… busy. That make Trekkie blood boil! When door shoot and curtains closed, Trekkie have good reason!

Miss Piggy/Kermit – cute or not?

Kate Monster: Oh, so cute! They are the ultimate puppet celebrity couple.

Princeton: I dated Miss Piggy briefly, it did not end well!

Trekkie Monster: Miss Piggy feisty lady! Good luck Kermit.