Puppetry

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is presenting the Salzburg Marionette Theater's production of The Magic Flute. I had seen an advertisement earlier today but only now realized that the show is tonight. It's too late for me to reach it now, but I am fascinated by puppets.

When I went to Vietnam, P. told me that when I was in Hanoi I must see the water puppets. I wasn't sure what she meant but she told me that the theatre was near the lake and that I couldn't miss it. It was incredible. Half-submerged puppeteers worked wooden puppets from behind a curtain. Frogs jumped across lilly pads, farmers worked the fields, dragons emerged from the water breathing fire. I wanted to go back the next day to see the performance again, but I was leaving for Lao, P.D.R.

When I returned from Southeast Asia, Being John Malkovich was one of the most discussed films playing in theaters. It was amazing, not the least of which for its use of puppetry to visualize its themes of manipulation. And I realized then my fascination. Even as I hung a marionette I brought back from Myanmar on the wall. Posted by eku at February 27, 2004 7:10 PM