Review: Avenue Q (Theatre Royal, Brighton, until Saturday, June 9)

Decidedly adult themes, lyrics that may offend, and smutty puppets with shock value - all come together brilliantly in the hilarious and enjoyable musical Avenue Q, which makes a welcome and popular return to Brighton.

This is Sesame Street with attitude, several worlds away from the Muppets that inspired it, and it’s true that some may shuffle with embarrassment at the profanity and un-PC grown-up humour. But the fact is the show by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx is screamingly funny at every moment, and although its backdrop is all-American it is clear to see why British audiences have been lapping it all up since it first hit the West End in 2006.

In Avenue Q some of the cast are human, while others are puppets given life by actors who, in spite of visibly manipulating their characters, ensure that we can believe every emotion and mood swing - whether college graduate, monster, or ‘bad ideas bear.’