Marionettes in Myanmar have a history of about 500 years and played an important role in the development of dramatic art and culture in the country. In the old days, the puppet show was a means to communicate news, stories and moral lessons to the people. Mandalay is the cultural heartland of Myanmar and the Mandalay Marionettes Theater is a popular venue to experience this art form.
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Prior to the start of the show, we admired the array of puppets for sale on one wall of the small theater, consisting many characters including humans, animals and mythical beings.
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 Ready to signal the start of the show with an overture...brass gongs, |
Drums,
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Cymbals, bamboo clappers, wind pipes make up the full orchestra
The Mandalay Marionette Show features skits based on classical stories about forest spirits (nats) and the creation of the world, the romance of a prince and princess and episodes in the life of the Buddha that teach virtues such as honesty, wisdom and filial piety. These are played out against colourful backdrops to the accompaniment of music, singing and narration in Burmese, so it was us mostly guessing the plot from the action on stage!
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| The show begins with a forest scene and the appearance of the King of the Spirits |
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| and various mythical figures during the chaotic Creation of the World; peace finally came about with the establishment of the Kingdom and the show ends with the mandatory romantic scene of the Prince dancing with the Princess |
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 Scenes from palace life  The puppets are about 2 feet tall, with joints controlled by as many as a dozen wires, thus allowing intricate human-like movements   Curtain lifted to show the puppeteers expertly manipulating the puppets   A cheeky scene.....a girl goes on stage and becomes  a human imitating a marionette  Master puppeteer showing his skills 
Show ends with puppeteers appearing on stage
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