While in Bangkok we went to the Joe Louis Puppet Theatre (their site seems to be down, but click here for images of the puppets and click here for more information about the theater.) What a treat that was! Rather than marionettes on strings, operated from above, these puppets perform with a team of three people per character: one person controls the head and left hand, another the right hand, and still another the feet.
In order to perform, puppeteers must first be trained in Thai classical dance. Then they study for one year to be considered for a trio as one of the characters. The puppets act out their parts using traditional dance moves, which the puppeteers do while they're performing. The effect is a bit like looking at a funhouse mirror with everything in quadruplicate, but beautiful, graceful and expressive.
The story we saw comes from the Indian Ramayana, and is called "The Myth of Rahoo and the Lunar Eclipse." It involves Hanuman the white monkey king, a beautiful girl (but 'natch), demons, and the moon. When one of the demond gets killed by being cut in half, the moon becomes hidden until it reappears by coming back out where he was cut in half.
The puppets were absolutely enchanting. Hanuman and the Princess greet theater-goers as they arrive, play tricks on people and have their photos taken. After the performance they wander through the audience, interacting and joking. The skill of the puppeteers is so impressive, especially when you consider the ability to interact with people from all over the world and get them all smiling. At one point, Hanuman grabbed a baseball cap from a boy, and put it on. Then he turned the bill around to the back and starting making "yo, yo" gestures like a rapper.
Ah yes, the power of MTV.
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