Water Puppet Performance: The Cast


by Lisa Spivey/Albert Wen, Oct 1, 1999 | Destinations: Vietnam / Hanoi
The puppeteers line up in front of the screen at the end of the performance.

The puppeteers line up in front of the screen at the end of the performance.

The puppeteers line up in front of the screen at the end of the performance.
The puppeteers line up in front of the screen at the end of the performance.
Du Thi Mui has been with the Thang Long Troupe since 1969.

The puppets in a water puppet show are carved out of fig wood. They are nearly three feet tall and can weigh up to 35 pounds. The puppeteers, who stand in the water behind a screen, control the puppets with a rod-and string mechanism. The rods are bamboo poles 12 to 15 feet long. The more complicated puppets are controlled by several puppeteers at the same time.



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