First conceived in 1999 as a musical theatre workshop project, Avenue Q opened to rave reviews in March 2003 and won the Best Musical Tony in 2004. It is still running on Broadway and also now in Las Vegas and  London. Music and lyrics are by Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez , book is by Jeff Whitty.

A friend explained the concept of the show as "Sesame Street for grown ups", but it is much more than that. A sharp-as-a-tack script, memorable songs and yes, those engaging puppets come to life in this two hour laugh-in-cum-love-in which makes you feel good about yourself, even if it's sometimes at the expense of others ('Schadenfreude'). Elsewhere, refreshing takes on Political Correctness ('Everyone's a little bit racist', 'If you were gay') blend seamlessly with a love song of sorts ('There's a fine, fine line') to deliver a delightfully twisted musical even the most hardened LesMisaphobe will love.

If you don't see any other show this year, make sure you take in Avenue Q before it's current run ends in the spring. Daniel Boys, one of the finalists on the TV show, 'Any Dream will Do', delivers a virtuoso performance in two of the male leads with brilliant manipulation of the puppets. After the first five minutes I could not take my eyes off the puppets but somehow was able to follow Daniel's facial expressions which are in turn eerily matched by the puppet he controls .

Joanna Ampil's over the top performance as the formidable Christmas Eve is perfectly judged as is the salacious Julia Atherton who impressively breathes innocence and naughtiness into Kate Monster and Lucy Slut respectively. Tom Parsons played Nicky, porn-mad Trekkie Monster and Bear and captured the outrageous nonsense of it all perfectly.

If you are going to take in a show post Christmas in the West End, make sure its Avenue Q, you won't be disappointed.

Avenue Q runs at the Noel Coward Theatre, St Martins Lane.

www.avenueqthemusical.co.uk