Trefzger brings new puppet show to campus
Jessica Carreras
Issue date: 2/20/07 Section: Student Life
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Admittedly, some students didn't think they'd like Trefzger's talking dummies. "I came for the pizza," said UM-D freshman Tom Willie, "but I stayed for the show. It was surprisingly good." Willie, who was brought on stage to help care for a "baby" - a wadded up blanket that Trefzger made infant noises for - said that he had a test to study for, but the show was so good that he put off his studying to stay and watch.
Trefzger has been performing for almost 30 years. She received her first dummy at age 9 and is a self-taught ventriloquist. Growing up in a suburb of Cleveland, she often gave neighborhood shows.
In college, Trefzger's act was picked up by agents and she decided to take a year off to perform and save up money. However, she never went back to college and a year has turned into a lifetime. She has worked with such comedians as Jeff Foxworthy and Drew Carey, and was named funniest female of 2006 by Campus Activities magazine.
After working on cruise ships and doing corporate events for 10 years, Trefzger decided to start performing at colleges as well. This has taken her to campuses across the U.S. and, of course, to UM-D.
Despite years of performing, Trefzger admits that she is "still learning."
"Developing new characters and acts are the challenges," she says of her job.
Her other biggest challenge? Being away from her family. A mother of three boys, Trefzger says that being on the road so much is tough on her sons and husband, who works for an architectural firm. However, she is planning to take time off this summer as she awaits the birth of her twins, who are due in July.
Audience participation was key to Trefzger's act at UM-D. Her first guest, a drunk camel named Camelot, admitted to having a crush on a girl in the audience of over 30 students. He was devastated to find out that she preferred to date humans, not puppet camels.
Simon, an outspoken boy puppet, was a favorite of the audience. "That's a nice clock," Simon whispered to Trefzger, turning his head around and looking at the clock on the UC wall, "Let's steal it."
Next, Trefzger brought out "one of my oldest friends:" Judd - an old, overall-clad man who appeared to be napping. "What the hell is going on?" he exclaimed after awakening. "Why are they all staring at me?"
Judd gave several couples - married and unmarried - advice on love. His biggest bit of advice, however, was to the whole audience: "If you can't laugh at yourself, you're probably just not funny."
Two girl puppets, Chloe and Emily, came out for a short while. Chloe was a hit with the few kids in the audience, while Emily drew laughs when she told girls that for every three girls, one is guaranteed to be a tramp. "Girls," Emily said, "think of two of your friends. If they aren't [tramps], you are."
For her finale, Trefzger brought Simon back out and invited UM-D freshmen Mark, Danielle and Mo on stage. The three were used by Trefzger as human puppets when she tapped them on the shoulder and asked them their favorite colors. Mo was indecisive, while Danielle declared in a bedroom voice, "I love orange." Mark, however, was too focused on his wedgie.
"It was a little embarrassing," admitted Mark Sanko of his puppet persona, "but I thought it was pretty funny." The rest of the audience, if laughter was any indication, seemed to agree.
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