BWW INTERVIEWS: Paul Spicer From AVENUE Q

Danielle Adams

Hi Paul, and welcome back to BWW:UK. How does Avenue Q compare to your other work?

It's like nothing else I've ever done. I had never trained to be a puppeteer so it was very different, we are basically taught to put everything into the puppet so we have to leave our ego at the door, and take care of the person on your right arm. Every other show you can just rely on you, you are your character and whatever you do, but with this you have to put it into Princeton and Rod.

How did it feel to learn the training involved in working with puppets?

It's really mental, just to kind of keep the eyeline with your eyeline. Quite often you'll be going ahead with the scene and someone will say, "Paul, look at your puppet," and it's kind of dead - it should be an extension of you. So yeah, it was really tough, and the lip sync as well, it can be tricky. I'm a bit of a perfectionist so I have to make sure that every I is dotted and T is crossed so I'm still learning. I've been in the show for four weeks and there is still so much more I can do.

How does it feel to play a puppet?

Doing it, you can't really think of doing it any other way. I can't imagine how different it will be when I finish Avenue Q. I'm so used to putting something on my right arm and using that! It's like choreography: it's like one big dance, and all choreography is different so once you have done it you kind of leave it behind and you get on with it. Puppeetering is about dancing around the stage.

What motivated you to become involved in the show?

I just think it is brilliant. I really respect productions that are well done and to a good standard and I know that anything Cameron Mackintosh puts on is always of the highest standard. I've seen Avenue Q since it's been in London and I've always something I've cared for and I've always had an eye on, but I was never available when it was casting it but then it just kind of came along and I thought, "I'm going to go for it." I love it, it's really amazing.

Who do you prefer out of Princeton and Rod to play?

(laughs) It changes from day to day. It's really weird, it's all down to the way a scene will go or how I'm feeling that day. I quite like Princeton because he is bubbly, and bright and fun. But Rod is so complex, he goes through so much turmoil in the show and to get that into a puppet that has no facial expression... Some days I just love being Rod because it's a really big journey and it's an epiphany. The audience really love Rod, they think he is sweet and funny. I don't think I have a favourite.

What scene do you find the most embarrassing?

I don't think any of them are embarrassing, but they are risky! There are a couple of scenes that are really awkward and they are directed to be awkward, so you have to take a lot of care with the scenes, but I'm not easily shocked.

It's such a politically charged piece.

I love it because it gets an incredible reaction - and it's an honest reaction. There is a song in the show called Everyone's A Little Bit Racist, and it is a little close to the bone but it's not offensive. Everyone can relate to it but you hear people exclaim in shock, because they see themselves in us, and that is the point of the show. It's about holding a mirror up against society and saying that's what you are, and let's accept it.

Do you think it would have had the same impact if it used people instead of puppets?

No, because you can get away with so much more when you use puppets. Honestly, stick a puppet on my hand and I can say anything to anyone. It's just easier, they can hack it, they can really take it from furry things.

Why do you think the show has been such a success?

Because there is nothing like it. People latch on to something unique - things like Priscilla, it's doing so well because there is nothing like it. And I think Avenue Q is doing so well because it was a completely original idea and now it's in its fifth year.

What's the atmosphere like backstage - how do you relate to each other?

Really well because we are a similarly-aged cast, it's a small cast as well so we have a lot of stuff in common. We just all get along with our lives outside the show, and everyone is just getting on with stuff, which I love because sometimes you can be in shows which are all about attention and politics and it can be really boring backstage.

Do you ever worry about the audience reaction to the show?

Yeah, they do sometimes say things - people get offended, as much as I say people don't get offended if you have got a puppet on your arm! One particular time a man did get offended by something that Rod says at the end of act one. I just could barely hear him shout something and I thought maybe there was a problem. When you are involved in a scene, the last thing you think about is what happens externally, but that's fair enough - he didn't realise what the show was about. But I don't really worry about what the reactions are because that's the point of it.

What kind of people would really enjoy Avenue Q?

It's a real friends' kind of groups show and a couples' show, I would say it isn't a kids' show or an family show. I think it's like a cool show for people who don't think they like musicals. It's like an experience as much as it is a musical - it's so funny its actually it kind of takes itself out of musical theatre, so I think anyone from 16 upwards would find it hysterically funny, maybe for like hen nights and stag dos.

How do you think the audience feel or how would you like them to feel?

I'd like them to feel like they care about the characters. I would like them to chill out because that is what it's about. Sometimes I think it is nice for people to accept who you are.

Avenue Q transfers to the Wyndham's Theatre this month.

To post a comment, you must register and login.