Marionettes, Italy
Maybe you’ve seen marionettes dancing around
on strings. But have you ever seen them sword fight?
Traditional marionette shows in Italy are called
opera dei pupi, or “puppet opera.” The puppets don’t
sing. They act out epic poems from medieval times.
The most famous is Orlando Furioso, about a knight
named Orlando who wears gold armor and fights
with a magic sword. The wooden marionettes have
real brass armor and swords. Puppeteers move them
with strings, metal rods, and a lot of muscle.
Water Puppets, Vietnam
Water puppets really make a splash:
they perform in a pool of water! The
audience gathers around the pool while
the puppeteers hide behind a bamboo
screen. The sticks and strings that move
the puppets are hidden underwater, so
it looks like the puppets are swimming
and splashing on their own. Most water
puppet shows are about life in Vietnam’s
farming villages, but one favorite show is
about an emperor who helps the Golden
Turtle God return to his home in Hoan
Kiem Lake.This show is
going swimmingly!