water puppets

    Water, being one of the most basic compounds, symbolizes the simplicity of vietnamese life. Because the life of vietnamese people revolves around their crops, water is the essence of their lives. The fact that water can be transcended onto the stage is not only beautiful but also exclusive to vietnamese theater. While most theater productions would be concerned about the problems that water would cause, the producers of water puppet theater are not one bit concerned about splashing the audience with water. This is because the producers are the pastorals themselves, not professional theater producers.

    Having ordinary people behind the production gives this kind of theater a unique quality of purity. Metaphorically speaking, the water is full of life because it yields the growth of the crops. The water is full of life in reality too because it splashes the audience and thus gives them a real taste of how vietnamese folk life was like. Similarly to the water, the puppets themselves are also full of life. Their vivid colors and accentuated movements are so illustrative that it is not even necessary for the audience to understand the language. 

    The reality and beauty of this form of theater is born through imperfection. I believe more theater should be produced and directed by the people that are being portrayed in the act. Having blemishes here and there gives plays a humble quality that the audience can bow down to and admire. This is because it takes more effort to be authentic than to be extravagant. Even the chorus is comprised of talented instrumentalists, yet instead of drawing attention to themselves, they sit on the left side away from center-stage. Even though the chorus plays an important role in puppet theater, the primary aspect are the puppets. The different roles played by the puppets represent the roles individuals play in the rice-making process. Every individual plays a part in the whole, and as a result the final product (the crops) symbolizes their unity and hard work.