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Author: * Feiyan Zhou -
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Date: Oct 17, 2007 - 10:02
Mua Roi Nuoc Theater
Welcome to the puppet production of "The Ambitious Carp," a folk tale that appears in various Asian cultures including China, Japan, and Vietnam. This story was chosen because it is one that parents often tell their children during Tet Trung Thu, the Mid-Autumn Moon festival celebrated in Vietnam.
After working so hard during the harvest season, parents make up for lost family time with a holiday that focuses on the children. It is an opportunity to rest from their labor, to celebrate the harvest, and to show their love and appreciation of their children. Parents buy their children lanterns, serve them tasty mooncakes and other special treats, and tell them traditional fairy tales. They also engage them in a variety of activities: lantern parades under the silvery moon, traditional unicorn or dragon dances, and contests for prizes and scholarships.
Vietnamese water puppetry is an age-old art that is intimately connected to the rice-planting culture of rural peasants. In ancient times, the shallow ponds and the rice paddies were the stages for these impromptu shows after the harvest. The water surface is an integral part of the play. It conceals the legs of the puppeteers and provides exciting effects like waves and splashes. The wooden puppets float on the surface or dive below it. The puppeteers stand in waist-high water behind a curtained backdrop and control the figures with bamboo rods and string mechanisms below the surface. Complex maneuvers can make dragons exhale smoke or fish shoot sprays of water at the audience. Performances of up to 18 short scenes lasting a few minutes each are accompanied by a small orchestra. Besides glimpses of life in the village, scenes include folk legends and national history.
Traditionally, the narrator of the puppet show is a chubby character named Chu Teu, so let's see what he has in store for today's program. Find a comfortable spot, break out the mooncakes, and enjoy the show!
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The Ambitious Carp: Introduction
The Dancing Lion Festivity Center
(- threads, 2942 posts)
The Autumn Moon Puppet Theatre
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The Ambitious Carp: Scene One
