u Review Avenue Q, The Mayflower A LOT can happen in a year – especially for the residents of Avenue Q.

The puppets are back with one of the most riotous shows around and it’s even funnier than I remember. Sesame Street characters turn into porn junkies, troubled souls and even racists in this most politically incorrect of shows, which is bang up to date with references to the banking crisis, My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding and Jeremy Kyle USA.

The Bad Influence Bears convert to Scientology in a swipe at Tom Cruise, and a Portsmouth Football Club ticket raises nothing for charity.

College graduate Princeton moves to this New York neighbourhood in a desperate bid to follow his dreams and find that elusive meaning of life. Distracted by a rather forward busty blonde, he still manages to make a variety of weird and wonderful friends and neighbours, not forgetting the love of his life.

A small company of talented actors cleverly control the cast of puppets. Part of their skill is that you quickly forget they are there and get drawn into the lives of Nicky, Rod, Mrs T and, my particular favourite, Trekkie Monster, the dirty old man turned porn billionaire.

Katherine Moraz deserves special praise as she hilariously juggles two opposing roles. Kate Monster finally gets one over on her nemesis – the brash, bold and brassy Lucy from the top of the Empire State Building.

Julie Yammanee is also brilliant as the mail-order bride Christmas Eve, who is just the perfect stereotype. An appreciative first-night audience roared with laughter as the cast produced plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.