Interview Avenue Q’s Rod and Trekkie Monster

As much as Jason Segel and the folks at the estate of Jim Henson may want you to believe that all puppets are fuzzy creations of pure innocence with no primal urges beyond teaching the alphabet and musical numbers, it’s not true. 

Though the characters of Avenue Q know how to pull off a crowd-pleasing song-and-dance number, they’re certainly not the type to entertain toddlers on a Saturday morning. They openly admit they’re racist, relish in other people’s misery, masturbate, swear, drink, do drugs, and have explicit sex on stage. Loudly. They also win Tony Awards, including Best Musical in 2003.

The last time the puppets left Avenue Q and hit the streets of Toronto was in 2008, when the show played at the Elgin Theatre with Dancap Productions. Now a local production at the Lower Ossington Theatre is running from January 18 until February 4, with local actors and the real puppets from the Broadway production. We caught up with two of the most memorable characters, Trekkie Monster (Adam Norrad), a course introvert reminiscent of Cookie Monster (only substitute Internet porn for baked goods), and Rod (Adam Proulx), a closeted and conservative investment banker who claims to have a girlfriend named Alberta who lives in Vancouver.

The A.V. Club: Hey guys, it has been a few years since you were last in Toronto. How does it feel to be back? 

Rod: It is wonderful to be back in Toronto. Ah, it’s a little bit cold here, which is why I’m looking a bit blue these days. My circulation isn’t what it used to be. But I’m very happy to be back and to be at the Lower Ossington Theatre this time. Trekkie Monster?

Trekkie Monster: Was just going to say me prefer Canada. Me covered in fur, right? Much more acclimatized. Mhm. 

AVC: What have you been up to? 

TM: Oh I’ve spent lots of time, you know, at the bars, The Brass Rail, you know, meeting the locals. Mhm.

Rod: As for me, I’ve really been into yogalates lately. So it’s been quite good actually, yes. 

AVC: You’ve been able to catch a few classes?

Rod: Just a couple. It’s hard for me to bring any of my friends from Avenue Q over, but I enjoy it quite a lot myself. 

TM: Me thought yogalates was a drink at Starbucks. 

AVC: So you haven’t been too stressed with rehearsals?

TM: Hmmm, no. Not really. I just get high. 

AVC: Trekkie, we haven’t seen you since 2008 and that was a tough year in business. How has the porn industry been for you?

TM: Oh you know, there’s one industry that never goes down and that’s porn! There always demand, there always supply. So we doing pretty well, mhm.

AVC: And Rod, word is you like Canadian ladies…

[Trekkie Monster snorts] 

AVC: Have you picked up at all since you’ve been back in town? 

Rod: Well, it’s, you know, it’s been um—it’s hard, for a puppet. And I’ve been—

[Trekkie Monster stifles laughter]

Rod: Trekkie, please—I’ve been working hard at my investment firm. So, you know what, I, I feel like it’s going to get better in the future.

AVC: You look like there’s something you want to say, Trekkie.

TM: Mhm. I just want to say that at the Avenue Q Meet-and-Greet, cousin Bekky Monster was not so lucky. But cousin Reckie Monster... let’s just say that Rod had lots of punch. 

AVC: Rod, is there anything you want to say? On the record. 

Rod: On the record, no not particularly, no. Trekkie…

AVC: Ok then. Rod, you’re a well-known conservative, so I was wondering, what do you think of the Mayor of Toronto? 

Rod: I think he’s doing wonderful, wonderful things actually. I think he has a good head on his shoulders, and This Hour Has 22 Minutes has always been very frightening to me as well.

[Trekkie Monster hits Rod on the head]

AVC: Please control yourself, Trekkie Monster.

Rod: Yes, you’re going to ruin my perfectly constructed coif. 

AVC: Why should people come see Avenue Q?

Rod: Well, we are certainly the most interesting people, and people of fur, around. And I think it would be a wonderful opportunity to spend time with your friends, your family, your um, um, partner—

TM: Me thinks it’s a great opportunity for parents to get to know their kids. Definitely family show— 

Rod: Trekkie, I, I’m not—I’m not sure that’s the proper advice.

TM: Me think 3 to 5 years old. Mhm, mhm.

Rod: I would not say so, but I have had a very conservative upbringing.

AVC: Then it must be hard for you to be in such a scandalous show. How do you feel about the issues that Avenue Q brings to life?

Rod: I feel like I hold my own and I deal with myself in a very upstanding and respectable manner. 

AVC: But, you do get quite lewd in one song in particular. How do you justify that? 

Rod: Sometimes in order to drive a point home you have to use some... some coarser language that you might not use otherwise.

AVC: And, if you had to, would you ever consider nudity and sexual acts onstage like your cast members? 

Rod: Considering I have no legs, absolutely. 

TM: I never wear clothes. I was born like this. Lucky I have long fur! Ha ha ha. 

AVC: After the show ends, what’s next for you guys? 

TM: Hmm, me currently being sought for tax evasion, so me thinking Morocco or South Africa. Mhm. 

Rod: And me, myself, I plan on taking the show on the road. I will be touring. And it’s not only Avenue Q though, I will also be performing in the production of No, No Nietzsche at the Lakeview Playhouse.