Puppets take center stage in Venice Theatre production of 'Avenue Q'
By Madison Chapman , Herald-Tribune
/ Friday, March 9, 2012
Rehearsal protocol can differ with each production, but a backstage triage station for puppets is certainly a new experience for Venice Theatre.
Opening Thursday in the intimate Stage II theatre, "Avenue Q" is directed by Steve Dawson, who starred in and co-designed the puppets for last year's production at Golden Apple Dinner Theatre.
The show follows the story of Princeton, a college graduate forced to move into a second-rate apartment on Avenue Q in New York, where all of the other inhabitants are equally frustrated with their inability to make their dreams come true. The show features a few human characters, such as the landlord named Gary Coleman (supposedly the star of the 1980s series "Diff'rent Strokes") along with such lively puppets as Princeton's love interest, Kate Monster, and the roommates Rod and Nicky.
The cast and crew of Venice Theatre's production of "Avenue Q." COURTESY PHOTO
For the Venice production, Dawson will be using the same puppets he created with David Walker — with some updated foam and thread.
Dawson's expertise with the hand and rod-controlled creatures comes from his previous job as a puppeteer with a St. Petersburg student drug prevention program. Aside from giving the actors wrist sprains, he says the puppets help push the cast outside of their comfort zones.
"It's refreshing to be able to able to come in and shape the piece, but then step back and watch... For the actors, it's all about using the mirrors and getting used to the (puppet) body," Dawson explained in a phone interview.
A far cry from the child-friendly inhabitants of Sesame Street, the puppets of "Avenue Q" sing numbers like "I'm Not Wearing Underwear Today," "It Sucks to Be Me," and "The Internet is for Porn." Originating off-Broadway in 2003, "Avenue Q" had a successful six-year run on Broadway and won three Tony Awards before transferring to a smaller Manhattan theater, where it continues to run today.
Dawson believes that the raunchy humor and adult elements make the show more relatable and "human."
"It's about puppets doing and talking about things that are very human. When you see 'Sesame Street,' it's very much a fantasy, puppet world. They don't express themselves the way these guys would. Whether it has to do with sex, not having a job and being disillusioned, or being hurt, these puppets are expressing very real things," Dawson said.
The show is extra challenging for actors who are taking on double roles. With each puppet change comes a new character's voice and mannerisms. Venice's production stars Kyle Luckett, William Murphy, Caitlin Longstreet, Lauren Kelly, Kako Kitano, Kelly Leissler and Rebecca Phippard. Luckett, Longstreet and Leissler recently starred in the theater's "[title of show]."
Some of cast members will have rehearsed for a full two months by opening night, because extra rehearsal time was necessary in order to master the puppeteering.
"I think it's really unique to see emotion played out through something that you're controlling, but something that's not actually you," Dawson said. "Even in rehearsal, watching these puppets come alive, it's amazing because your focus goes right to them as though they're moving by themselves."
THEATER PREVIEW
AVENUE Q.
Opens at 8 p.m. Thursday and runs 8 p.m. Tues.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. through April 15. Venice Theatre, 140 W. Tampa Ave., Venice. Tickets are $24-$27, $12-$15 for students. 488-1115; venicestage.com
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