THEY loved the performers, they adored the puppets and the music set their toes a-tapping.
But they winced during a graphic puppet sex scene, were offended by some of the risque lyrics and greeted a jab at George W. Bush with stony silence.
“Avenue Q” – that very cheeky and very naughty puppet show that won the Tony Award last year – did not, on the whole, pass muster with Republican delegates, at least two from Ohio, who, at The Post’s invitation, attended yesterday’s matinee.
“Let me preface this by saying that I think the show is very clever and the actors are wonderfully appealing,” said Ceatta Mickey, a tax adviser from Solon, Ohio. “But a lot of it appeals to my baser nature.”
Irene Morrow, a retired civil service commissioner from Cleveland who wore a W04 button on her lapel, said: “The performers were wonderful, but I did not like a lot of the lyrics. I’m not a goody two-shoes, but I am a Christian woman and I did not care for some of the language.”
Both women were put off by what they called the “G.D.’s” – that is, the “God damns,” which pop up regularly in the show.
“I’m a Christian,” said Mickey, explaining her reaction to the “G.D.’s.”
The Republican National Committee did not deem “Avenue Q” appropriate for delegates, since, in addition to puppet sex and foul language, it also features a character who is a closeted gay Republican.
The RNC sent delegates to shows like “The Lion King” and “Beauty and the Beast” that are more family friendly. Mickey said that was the right decision, even though she herself laughed during much of “Avenue Q.”
“I’ve hosted a cable TV show about the Red Cross for over 20 years in Cleveland, so I guess you could say I’m on the fringes of show business,” she said. “I’m a little more permissive, but I don’t think most Republicans would like it.”
Mickey did enjoy the politically incorrect song “Everybody’s a Little Bit Racist” – a highlight of the show.
“There’s a lot of truth in that,” she said. “The party would have loved that and then left,” she said of the Republicans.
The graphic sex scene between two puppets left Morrow cold.
“That was in very bad taste,” she said. “They should stop that. Besides, it didn’t teach me anything I don’t already know.”
At the end of “Avenue Q,” the entire casts sings a song with a swipe at George Bush.
The audience erupted in laughter and applause.
Mickey and Morrow did not move. “If a delegation of Republicans had been there, they would have booed that,” Morrow said later. “But it would not have been fair to the actors.”
Despite their reservations about the show, Mickey and Morrow were very happy to meet the cast, all of whom are Democrats, backstage after the show.
“You were all wonderful,” said Mickey, “and we forgive you for all those jabs at us Republicans.”
