Avenida Q

Next September 11th, producers of Avenue Q in Mexico City will offer a special show for the Mexican LGBT community. The purpose is to thank the queer community for their support during the five months that the play has been on theatre. The Mexican version of the American musical conceived by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx is quite different from that on Broadway, not only in terms of context, but also in terms of language and jokes.

Felipe Fernández Del Paso, director of the Mexican version, sought to reinterpret Avenue Q by changing the setting from a New York street that could be Brooklyn or Queens, to a Mexican vecindad or group of little apartments that line up along a patio, often found in poor neighborhoods. References to racism in the United States have been changed to references to Mexican society’s snobism by using the word naco—a word that also talks about racism in Mexico. Some jokes related to politics had to change, too. And last but not least, puppeteers wear bold colors instead of the black and greyish from the original play. Another attraction is the performance of Christian Chávez, who I guess is expected by the queer community attending this “special show”.

It is likely that only a middle-class population will attend the show, but I want to point out the fact that during the last five months, Mexico City has witnessed interesting events related to sexual and reproductive rights: abortion legislation, the International AIDS Conference, the 30th Gay Parade, a marriage between two transgender persons, and the debates on the official textbook of sexual education in Mexico City are some of them.

The fact that Avenida Q is on theatres now doesn’t mean that Mexico City is fairy land for GLBT people. Mexico City and Mexico still have a lot to do, specially among the youngest generations, who do not have easy access to accurate, scientific information about sexuality and their rights on this matter. Most of this problem has to do with prejudices and fears. Ultimately, Avenida Q is a call to fight our own prejudices and fears in any matter, through fun.

Centro Cultural Telmex is on the corner of Avenida Chapultepec and Avenida Cuauhtémoc, near to Cuauhtémoc subway. The theatre will sell the tickets at 10:30 with special prices. Supposedly, the actors will throw a party for the audience after the show.