JUST like a cream bun, ‘naughty but nice’ just about perfectly sums up the musical Avenue Q.

As the show which beat Wicked to a Tony award in their first years on Broadway, this has a lot to live up to in my eyes.

No, it didn’t quite top the Oz-fest, but does come pretty close.

We follow a bunch of down but not completely outs in an iffy New York district as they face some of life’s biggest issues; sexuality, homelessness, unemployment, love, friendship, race and finding your purpose... All with the help of Sesame Street-like educational films, slow-burner Five Knights Stand was my favourite.

The endlessly endearing kindergarten assistant Kate Monster and arts graduate Princeton head the cast, with performers Adam Pettigrew and Rachel Jerram switching with such ease to also tackle floozy Lucy and in the closet banker Rod - with fresh voices and mannerisms each time: Sweet to sexy, all-American boy to sexually confused in split seconds, even speaking and singing both parts while co-stars took on the second puppet.

I was seriously impressed with how all the performers took on the characteristics of every puppet they operated - as many as three in just a single scene or song for some.

As the ‘real’ people Gary, Christmas Eve and Brian (Matthew J Henry, Jacqueline Tate and Edward Judge) made their puppet neighbours real for the audience, interacting with the puppets not their operators. It doesn’t take long to get sucked into the furry guys’ world, and to be ahhh-ing at their plights.

Trekkie Monster and the too-cute Bad Idea bears provided the biggest laughs. Chris Thatcher and Katharine Moraz’s work, also including Nicky, was fantastic - whether together or alone. I especially loved how it suddenly made sense that there were two operators for Nicky - I won’t spoil it.

Avenue Q is best known for its rude, cheeky side, songs such as Internet Is For Porn and Everyone’s A Little Bit Racist will have you weaping with ‘hiwawious’ laughter. But there are also some really touching ‘ballads’, Fantasies Come True and There’s A Fine, Fine Line were among my favourite moments.

Unfamiliar with the oh-so witty lyrics, I picked up every single word - a combination of not-too-loud music and great performances all round.

The capsule set was a real joy too, for a theatre nerd, with apartments opening off the block and the Empire State Building created with uplighters - and remember Jerram voices Kate and Lucy throughout this scene, brilliant.

On for the half term week, the show’s listed for age 12 and over but I’d add another couple of years to avoid some highly cringeworthy moments.

With top price tickets just £30, this is a feel-good, must-see show - whether you’re a musical fan or not.

* Until Saturday. Tickets cost £13 to £30. To book, visit thelowry.com or ring 0843 208 6010