Anatomy of a puppet show

Ever wondered what it takes to put together a lavish musical, complete with all-singing, all-dancing puppets? Just ask Pip Mushin, the director of JYM’s Avenue Q, who kept a diary of the experience.

April 11, 2011

A cafe in Elsternwick
Meeting with JYM founder and producer Shlom Eshel. We click immediately. One latte (me) and one Chai (Shlom) later and we knew we’d be doing a show together.
With 10 years of JYM behind her and my past involvement with Saltpillar Theatre, it’s strange that we’ve never really crossed paths before, let alone worked together. Thanks to our sons, who have become friends at Sholem Alecheim College, for introducing us. Who says kids only take, take, take.

May 19

We need a show
Same Elsternwick cafe. Shlom and I meet for the fourth time. We’ve chosen a musical but logistical problems are intervening. What to do? We need a show. Shlom chimes in casually, “You know, the rights are available for Avenue Q, the fabulous Tony Award-winning coming-of-age satire, which takes Sesame Street and flips it into an adults-only puppet parable.” Yes! Meeting adjourned.

October 23

Meet the team
Shlom’s place. Production team get-together. Weeks of meetings and interviews have paid off. Musical maestro Philip Setton is on board, as is vocal consultant Luke Hales – what a dynamic duo. Yakira Abraham joins the team as choreographer – great energy, great talent. Tamar Lipshutz (puppet consultant), Yossi Torbiner (set designer) – the list goes on. There’s no turning back.

November 6

Auditions
The talk is over. Today it starts. Ninety-three performers, 12 roles, seven days to cast the show. One-hundred and eighty-six songs and 93 scenes to get through. And that’s before call backs. Must reduce list to 40 for puppet workshops in three days time. So much to get through, so little time. Every second is crucial. Some of these people are bloody good. Much better than I expected. Tough decisions will need to be made.

November 10

Call backs
The last of the call backs leaves the room. Now the hard part. So much talent. There will be many disappointed people. Photos of actors are laid on the floor and matched up against each other. Can she sing the range? Can he dance the moves? Can she work the puppets? Arguments ensue: “He’s more versatile”, “She has a stronger voice”, “He doesn’t move well”. The pressure’s on.

As director I have final say, with Shlom’s approval. However, if I’m smart I’d better listen to Phil, Luke and Yakira. Otherwise I’ll have actors who can’t sing and singers who can’t dance. So many options. So many variations. We whittle it down. Forty actors becomes 24, becomes 16 and finally 12. Lock ’em in! After four hours of intensity and passion we have our cast!

November 20

First rehearsal
Day one of rehearsals. Start with some fun. Time to get to know each other. Introductory welcome talks and info from myself and Shlom. Break for food (Jewish theatre company), some drama games, a bit more food and a cast read-through of the show. So far so good. Everyone seems happy – for now.

November 23

Puppet workshop
The first of our puppet workshops with puppeteer Penelope Bartlau. Penelope teaches some basic skills so the actors have something to practice over the summer break. The puppets we’ll be using in the show haven’t arrived yet from Adelaide. No problem for Penelope. In fact, even better, she says. I watch in awe as Penelope effortlessly brings a paper bag and a toy teddy bear to life.

February 5, 2012

First day back
First day back after the break. Everyone is well rested and excited for the journey ahead. Twelve weeks rehearsal. Three nights and one Sunday or 15 hours a week. Plenty of time. Check the schedule. Workshoping, staging, choreography, teaching songs, learning puppetry from scratch – 15 hours a week? There’s not enough time!

February 7

The puppets arrive
Excitement as our furry friends finally arrive. Cast is thrilled to finally work with their alter egos. The extra rehearsals last year were certainly not wasted. The performers take to their puppets like man to dog. In some cases the dog seems to be ruling, but they’re on their way.

March 23

Cast bonding
Halfway through rehearsals. Everyone’s feeling the pinch. Meeting time. Normal frustrations and grievances are aired. Time for the traditional JYM bonding session. Perfect. Every year JYM has a cast and crew Shabbat dinner. Good food, good wine and lots of laughs, just what the rabbi ordered. This year Yakira’s parents, Lorraine and Simmy Abraham, have kindly donated their wonderful home (and Lorraine’s excellent culinary expertise). Twenty-five of us gather round the candlesticks and proceed to eat, drink and be very, very merry. We finish by entertaining the Abraham family with Avenue Q songs around the piano. To doctor an old saying, “You can take the actor away from the show, but you can’t take the show away from the actor.”

April 15

Kids show
It’s time for the kid’s run. Kids can’t see the actual show so we perform a half-dozen of the less inappropriate songs. Still, a few editorial changes have to be made. “Get out of the way, a***hole” becomes “get out of the way, silly” and “a redhead with gigantic t**s”, becomes “a clown with gigantic feet”. The run goes down a treat. Well, at least I thought it did. I asked my kids what they liked best: Rani (6): “I liked them all.” Tick. Jasper (8): “I liked the underpants song best.” Typical. Coby (4): “I didn’t like any of it.” Geez, everyone’s a critic!

April 27

Into the theatre
Bump in week begins. The set goes into the theatre today. Jack Torbiner and his construction team have worked like Trojans and pulled off a minor miracle. True unsung heroes. Tomorrow it’s sound and lighting. Sunday and Monday are tech runs, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday dress rehearsals and open on Saturday May 5. News from Shlom has just come through that opening night and the following Saturday have already sold out! Word is spreading. The hard work is almost over. It’s showtime!

JYM theatre co.’s production of Avenue Q premiered at the Phoenix Theatre, Elwood on May 5 and the season runs until May 19. Enquiries: www.jymtheatre.com.

PHOTO: Director Pip Mushin during rehearsals of Avenue Q.