Puppets and Purpose (A Love Letter to Avenue Q)

By Liese Hazelwood

Liese Hazelwood is a senior at Virginia Wesleyan University majoring in Biology and minoring in Chemistry. Outside of the lab, she participates in both theatre and choir on campus, finding delight in bringing stories to life.

I didn’t think I’d enjoy acting with a puppet. It’s hard to bring a piece of fuzz and fabric to life. The first time I ever picked up my rehearsal bear, I didn’t know what to do with it. How do I make it talk in a way that looks natural? What movements can it make? How do I make it express any sort of emotion with it when all it can do is open and close its mouth and move its arms?

One night I cried during rehearsal. There were two sets of puppet eyes on me. Could they see through their plastic eyes that I was not adequate enough to be in this show? Were they taunting me? Feeling sorry for me? Trying to offer support? How can they express emotion when all they can do is open and close their mouths and move their arms? 

It took real human support to comfort me. My fellow bear puppeteer stayed with me until she could make me laugh. My director told me that I was doing better than I thought. I then remembered why I loved theatre in the first place. It’s not just the joy of performance, but the network of supportive and like minded individuals. 

I held onto that support as I practiced harder than before. There was a joy in knowing that I was doing this for and with people that believed in me. 

Now, my puppet is lively. He has a name (Blue-bear-ry), he has a voice, he has gestures, and he has emotions. I’ll be sad to see him packed up in a box to be shipped off to another theatre, no longer touting the name, voice, gestures, or emotions I’ve given to him. Blue-bear-ry would not be the same without the support I received every day from the cast and crew of this show. 

Maybe I’ll never find my purpose, but I’ve found my people.

I love you, Avenue Q.