A racy, comical mix between “Sesame Street” and “South Park,” Avenue Q is a unique and innovative play featuring felt puppets, each with their own vibrant and unorthodox personalities. The hilariously modern musical focuses on the adventures of Princeton, a recent college graduate who now lives in an apartment in New York. While he tries to figure out his jumbled-up life after being dropped into the harshness of reality, Princeton comes across countless other intriguing characters such as the girl next door and a crazy Chinese man.

“Through the help of all the different colorful characters he meets on Avenue Q, [Princeton] learns about the harsh realities of life,” said Grant Unno, a senior playing an “internet sexpert” known as Trekkie Monster.

There isn’t a doubt that Avenue Q brings about an awakening in terms of the cruel and unforgiving ways the real world works. However, it successfully carries out the message in a light and humorous manner, addressing a very heavy, real topic with light-hearted entertainment.

“It’s a coming-of-age parable, addressing and satirizing the issues and anxieties associated with entering adulthood,” said Max Havas, a senior who will be playing the musical’s main character, Princeton. “It’s like ‘Sesame Street’ for adults. We have both human and puppet characters that ‘teach life lessons’ to the audience through song.”

The “life lessons” that Havas refers to consist of a variety of provocative and hilarious material, quite similar to the humorous techniques used in the television show “South Park.” With the colorful usage of satire, the play jokes about topics ranging from racism to sex to Generation Y to the typical economic problems that common people face every day. The wide range of subliminal messages that are directed toward the audience cover topics so controversial, they should be insulting. Yet, the interesting set-up of the musical allows for the jokes and imitations to humor the audience rather than anger it.

While the use of puppets adds an exciting and imaginative feel to the musical, it is a new and unexplored territory for PV’s drama department. Contrary to using their own bodies to perform on stage, actors must be aware of a second “body” that they will be controlling.

“It’s the first time we’ve ever used puppets,” said Havas. “Puppetry is really difficult because you have to constantly be focused on this other performer that just happens to be an inanimate object. It’s really hard, but super fun.”