FELT

by Ava Love Hanna

10-MINUTE: When a megalomaniacal celebrity puppet named Bernard breaches the bond between puppet and puppeteer, Michael must choose whether to follow his heart or his hand. A sordid comedy about love, puppets, investment banking, and salsa dancing until the wee hours.

Published in Smith & Kraus: Best Ten-Minute Plays of 2025

10-MINUTE: When a megalomaniacal celebrity puppet named Bernard breaches the bond between puppet and puppeteer, Michael must choose whether to follow his heart or his hand. A sordid comedy about love, puppets, investment banking, and salsa dancing until the wee hours.

Published in Smith & Kraus: Best Ten-Minute Plays of 2025

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FELT

Recommended by

  • Danielle Wirsansky: FELT by Ava Love Hanna
    “

    Chaotic, hilarious, and wonderfully demented, FELT turns puppet comedy into a fast-moving farce of desire, control, and theatrical absurdity. Hanna’s twists, wordplay, and outrageous premise make this ten-minute play an absolute comic feast.

    Chaotic, hilarious, and wonderfully demented, FELT turns puppet comedy into a fast-moving farce of desire, control, and theatrical absurdity. Hanna’s twists, wordplay, and outrageous premise make this ten-minute play an absolute comic feast.

    ”
  • Steven G. Martin: FELT by Ava Love Hanna
    “

    I laughed out loud at the many twists and turns and jokes Ava Love Hanna packs into this short, darkly comic yet romantic play, from Jam Hamson to Vegas showgirl costume reveals to Tarot/Uno wars and all the twists and turns and reveals of a 1980s soap opera. Hilarious stuff, and I'm glad it's published in Smith & Kraus' Best Ten-Minute Plays anthology.

    I laughed out loud at the many twists and turns and jokes Ava Love Hanna packs into this short, darkly comic yet romantic play, from Jam Hamson to Vegas showgirl costume reveals to Tarot/Uno wars and all the twists and turns and reveals of a 1980s soap opera. Hilarious stuff, and I'm glad it's published in Smith & Kraus' Best Ten-Minute Plays anthology.

    ”
  • Michael C. O'Day: FELT by Ava Love Hanna
    “

    You know the classic horror trope of the ventriloquist whose dummy has a mind of its own? Or the way people can use puppets to express emotions they're afraid to admit to themselves? Well, Ava Love Hanna has taken those concepts and used them to create FELT, a hilarious, sweetly demented pan-sexual farce that suggests La Ronde by way of Meet The Feebles - and if that statement means anything to you, you need to read this immediately.

    You know the classic horror trope of the ventriloquist whose dummy has a mind of its own? Or the way people can use puppets to express emotions they're afraid to admit to themselves? Well, Ava Love Hanna has taken those concepts and used them to create FELT, a hilarious, sweetly demented pan-sexual farce that suggests La Ronde by way of Meet The Feebles - and if that statement means anything to you, you need to read this immediately.

    ”
View all 5 recommendations

Character Information

There are two human characters and 2 puppets. The puppets are controlled by the two actors and interact with them as though they are sentient.
  • Liz
    Works as a puppeteer on the TV Show, Bernard’s House. Main puppeteer for Bernard.
    20s to 30s
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Bernard
    A puppet. Older man. Host of the TV show, Bernard’s House. Resembles Statler from The Muppet Show. Well dressed. He speaks with a refined, almost British accent. Gentle on screen; cantankerous when off.
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Michael
    Works as a puppeteer on Bernard’s House. Main puppeteer for Jeremy. Thinks he’s in love with Liz.
    20s to 30s
    Male or male-presenting
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Jeremy
    A puppet. Older man. Resembles and sounds like John Waters – complete with thin mustache. Flamboyant mannerisms. Is wearing a loud, but stylish suit.
  • Coco
    The puppet Jeremy in disguise. Looks exactly like Jeremy (with mustache) but is wearing a flashy Vegas show girl dress and headdress over their suit.

Development History

  • Reading, ScriptWorks, Nov 2023
  • Reading, Playwright Group, 2023

Production History

  • Professional, ScriptWorks - Out of Ink, May 2024
  • Professional, Wolfville Social Club, Feb 2026

Awards

  • Best Ten Minute Plays of 2025
    Smith & Kraus
    Selection
    2025
  • Publication: Out of Ink: Not in the Cards Anthology
    ScriptWorks
    Selection
    2024