You think actors have a tough life. Try being a puppet who wants to be an actor. Eliot (lower center, wearing eyepatch) has always dreamed of playing the lead in Private Lives or A Streetcar Named Desire. These dream roles have eluded him, but he has managed to star in So This Puppet Walks into a Bar at Thirst Theatre (along with Barbara Kingsley and Jim Lichtscheidl) and play Tiny Tim at Commedia Beauregard's A Klingon Christmas Carol at Mixed Blood Theatre.
Eliot auditioned for the role of Toby Bustle, the wee lad who becomes cabin boy on The Salty Cockerel, in our production of YARRRH! The Lusty, Busty Pirate Musical. He made callbacks, and is very encouraged by the fact that Fortune's Fool used him as a model in the YARRRH! publicity shoot. Like any actor, he figures hustle and ingratiating himself with the producers might give him an edge. "It's who you know, right?" he says. "But they may be looking for somebody shorter or younger, so I'm preparing for callbacks and trying to stay calm."
"Whatever happens," he adds, "I'll get fifteen minutes of fame because of the photo shoot. I had a great time! Mr. Pakudaitis made me feel so relaxed. What a pro. And the women were all so nice to me, even though I don't have the part yet. Plus, face it, I'm a breast puppet."
