Photos and Story by Livi Stanford
 
    Laughter is the best medicine, especially during difficult fiscal times, according to Paul L’Ecuyer, artist, and puppeteer of the Drawbridge Puppet Theater at 1335 Massachusetts Ave.

        Despite a difficult recession, which has caused families to cut back on luxuries, theater is not one of them. In fact, new faces are showing up to the theater, according to L’Ecuyer as more seats have been sold.

    L’Ecuyer said people from as far as Foxboro and Boston show up at the theater and at most shows three quarters of the seats are filled and sometimes they are sold out.

    In explaining the increase of business in light of a recession, L’Ecuyer said he learned something significant from his mentor: “Whenever things are tough, the puppet business actually increases.”

    L’Ecuyer added: “People don’t deny things for their children. Maybe times are tough, but our prices tend to be reasonable. Parents need to escape and hear kids laugh. It can be the best medicine.”

    However, when the theater first relocated to Lunenburg, it was difficult at the beginning.

    “When we started four years ago, we were feeling the beginning of the recession,” L’Ecuyer said. But as families learned of the theater, business began to pick up.

    The theater, which relocated to Lunenburg from Fitchburg, in 2006, draws children and families into the magical world of the stage through marionettes and music. The one-hour shows cover some of the classic children’s tales, including such shows as Aladdin’s Enchanted Lamp and the current holiday-themed classic, The Nutcracker.

    The shows give children the opportunity to get away from the television and actually experience live theater for the first time, according to L’Ecuyer.

    “Since most of our shows are classic fairy tales, we encourage (the children) to read the story and maybe go home and create their own puppets,” he said.

    The Nutcracker, which is currently being performed following the classic tale using marionettes took one week of rehearsals, about four hours a day, where the puppeteers performed their script and recorded it on a CD to be played back during the performance while they control the marionettes.

    Performing together for 16 years, L’Ecuyer and fellow puppeteer, Jeffrey Koslik, developed their production company in 1992. The production company was first located in Fitchburg, but L’Ecuyer said he found the area too congested, so they made the transition to Lunenburg.

    “We were looking for a better spot for easy access for families and young kids,” L’Ecuyer said, and being a native of Lunenburg, he knew the area well.

    In addition to live theater, Drawbridge also houses a gift shop, an exhibit of marionettes and puppets, offers puppet-making workshops, and encourages children to use their imagination in different ways.

    One way is they urge children after the show to write to the puppet wizard that sits in front of the door about what they liked about the show, whether in pictures or words. Those pictures are then placed on the walls.

    L’Ecuyer said he performs approximately 104 shows a year and all the setup for the shows are made from scratch, including the puppets and scenery. And he enjoys every minute of his work, as he lights up when talking about the art of performing shows and making puppets.

    “I am a creative person,” he said. “I like doing artwork and creating the puppets. It is not just one facet of art, including the painting of scenery as far as the puppets are concerned. When making marionettes, it goes a little further. It is all the facets of my interests.”

    The Nutcracker will be performed at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. both Dec. 19 and 20, and also the following weekend after Christmas. For tickets and reservations, call (978) 582-6565.

Trudie’s Treats

    Similar to Drawbridge, Trudie’s Treats, located at 3 Lancaster Road, has also seen an increase in business in spite of the recession.

    Situated right in the center of town, near the Town Hall, Trudie’s is located in what looks like a home, with baked goods, pastries, sandwiches, paninis, salads, soups, and frozen dinners inside.

    The store offers, lunch and dinner options, including meatloaf and Shepherds pie, to name a few. A colorful Christmas tree is perched in front of the small tables and chairs where people can grab lunch or a bakery treat with friends or family.

    Like L’Ecuyer, Judith Comeau, owner of Trudie’s Treats, said when she opened her store more than three years ago, it was tough going at the beginning, but now she says the store is holding its own.

    When I opened, Comeau explained, “the bottom fell and personally if I did not have my whole sale business (in Shirley) I am not sure we would be where we are.”

    Working seven days a week, Comeau said all the food in the store is made from scratch. Four employees do the cooking and Comeau is there from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. most days. There is always someone cooking, baking or cleaning, according to Comeau.

    Trudie’s ring-ding recently won best dessert at The Taste of Nashoba 2009 and the store was given the Best of Boston Award in 1999 for its Swedish apple pie.

    After three years, the store now draws regular clientele and new customers are also showing up on a regular basis.

    Comeau said that she believes what draws people to her store, even in a recession, is the “cozy” atmosphere.

    “When you come in here it is like being in your home,” she said. “It is a family-run business and we all care about it. It feels like you are walking into a house, not a restaurant.”

    In addition, Comeau said the frozen dinners the store prepares makes it quick and easy for residents to come and pick up a simple dinner without having to go to a restaurant.

    “They have the stress of not cooking but at a much more reasonable way to do it,” Comeau said.

    A clear sign of the upswing in business was seen in a recent open house held at the store, where 80 to 90 people showed up.