“Everything in life is only for now.” Well, ain’t that the truth?

Avenue Q continues to be one of the most sincere yet outrageously funny comedies in the West End.

This was my second visit to the Shaftesbury Theatre to see the show. I had to go again because last time I was sat behind the tallest man in the world, who simply wouldn’t keep his head still.

Every visit to Avenue Q (I’ve seen the show eight times during its initial London run and on tour) is like being welcomed back home by friends. And, just as it should be, the giggles get going before the conversation gets all heartfelt and furry… Perhaps that’s where the comparison ends… unless… No, we’re not going there in a review.

Real-world problems, puppets going at it like their lives depend on it, and all the trials and tribulations of trying to figure life out culminate in some truly beautiful moments. Even 20 years on from its initial run in town, Avenue Q still captures the hearts of audiences.

If you’re a die-hard fan, there are changes, but they’re minimal. Except for the set, which has been given a dose of Viagra and now moves about the place, which is a lovely addition. It’s largely the Avenue Q you know and love, with all the right notes in all the right places. It just feels a little more up to date.

And if you’re returning, you’re going to have all of the feels. I blubbered the whole way through the show when I first saw it again after all these years, and even tonight the finale scenes caused a few tears.

As a broke journalism student who is apparently unemployable, I relate so much to what the characters are experiencing. A little too much, perhaps, though they’re definitely getting more action in a week of performances than I have for a good few years now. I never thought I’d be jealous of a puppet.

Let’s be honest, Purpose, Schadenfreude and There’s a Fine, Fine Line have been mainstays in musical theatre performers’ repertoires, not to mention how many times they get dragged out for showcases and things. That’s a real testament to the music and lyrics of Avenue Q.

It is absolutely a comedy first, but you might just leave feeling seen and heard if you’re feeling a bit fragile or lost in the chaos of life.

The cast are fantastic, bringing the familiarity we’ve come to expect from the likes of Trekkie, Kate Monster and Princeton, but there’s something in these performances that feels fresh and dynamic enough to almost have you feeling like you’re still learning things about them.

Avenue Q is an ensemble piece. Everyone gets their moment, but the show is at its best when they’re together. That said, Christmas Eve absolutely stole the show tonight.

The company make performing Avenue Q look so easy! It is not. Actors are frequently popping up in different places, multi-rolling, sometimes with a different puppet on their hand, and somehow keeping track of which voice should be speaking. Iconic!

There was, however, a noticeable difference in atmosphere between tonight’s Tuesday evening audience and the Saturday night crowd when I first went. Tonight felt somewhat more conservative, with laughter that didn’t linger quite as long and applause that wasn’t quite so rapturous. I think that energy rebounds from the stage.

That’s not to suggest there were weak performers or performances, but the atmosphere does make a difference. Interestingly, though, the quieter audience made those moments when everything calms down and the heart comes out feel just a little more potent.

I adore this musical.

Seeing it again after all these years has taken me back to the person I was when I first encountered it, and in a strange way, it’s helped give me some closure. My life has zigzagged about the place more than Lucy the Slut’s legs, and there’s been so much sadness and heartbreak along the way.

But Avenue Q invites you to look at life, laugh at it, and appreciate the mad memories for what they are. I left tonight feeling like I’m ready to start giving life a proper go again.

I’m a fan of the changes, and I highly encourage people to see this production while it’s around. It could well be another decade or so until we see it again, and I kind of hope it is, because that’s what keeps the show so special.

After all, everything in life is only for now.