ARTS . Arts Picks

Avenue Q

Jan. 29-Feb. 10, Cadillac Broadway Series, Forrest Theatre, 1114 Walnut St., telecharge.com.


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Published: Jan 23, 2008

theater

Children, how do you spell "Schadenfreude"? Probably not the question you'd expect to hear during a spelling lesson — but then Avenue Q, the fabulously imaginative puppet musical, isn't really for kids. It is, however, a very original show that will delight adults and young adults, especially those raised on Sesame Street, to which Avenue Q plays mischievous homage. So it's no surprise that the word of the day is "Schadenfreude" just as the issues confronting the local residents in a contemporary New York neighborhood include racism, homosexuality, unemployment — and of course, the crazy world of dating. I suppose I ought to warn that occasional raunchy language might offend some viewers, but most will, I think, be tickled pink with the show.

And in addition to Avenue Q, you'll get the extra pleasure of a trip to Forrest Theatre, a magnificent, historic site (Pal Joey, among many other landmark musicals, played its first performance there) that lately is hardly ever used. Let's hope the Cadillac Broadway series can change all that.

Jan. 29-Feb. 10, Cadillac Broadway Series, Forrest Theatre, 1114 Walnut St., telecharge.com.