Puppetry in Sicily has a long history. Currently it is an endangered art form with not many people remaining in the business. Here is a link to a brief piece of information from UNESCO on the history and origins of the puppet theatres. http://www.unesco.org/bpi/intangible_heritage/italy.htm
But there are still a few that are operational out there and I was able to go and see my first show last Friday night. The theatre we went to was operated by a very kind and talented family and there was a young man learning to do it from two older men. It was really incredible. They said they even make smaller versions and a miniature theatre so that they are able to practice it when they are small.
Brad was at a men's workshop with the chapel, but we are able to go and see another, different presentation this coming weekend. The show I saw last Friday was about the battle between the Paladins of Emporer Carlo Magno and the Saracens of King Marsilio. It was a 7-year war. The hero was the the famous Count Rolando. The traitor was Gano di Magonza. (There was also a fight with a dragon by Rolando.) At the end, before he dies, Rolando implores God to save the souls of his soldiers that died in this battle and the appearance of the angel bring him the presence of God.
We went again to the puppet show and it was the same story as last week, but this time our friends were able to go along. Our wonderful best friend Mario made up little booklets that had a pictures of the puppets on the front and the story in English on the inside so everyone would know what was going on. Next time we will see a love story, then that will probably be the last one we see for a while - unless there is one while our family is visiting.
Before the show we were able to go back stage and see the puppets up close, and also one of the men let me try to hold one up - they are extremely heavy - I could not hold it up. (this is why they make the smaller ones for the younger kids). They showed me where the puppeteers stand - above the stage - and how the puppets are maneuvered. They use some ropes and strings for intricate moves but long metal poles that are attached to the puppets for most of the major movements.
It is fascinating to watch them and they can make quite elaborate motions, including putting down their face plates on their helmuts, waving their swords around, etc. I loved every moment of it even though I did not understand what they were saying. It was kind of a violent story and during the worst part where the battles were being fought, quite a few puppets lost their heads (which is typical). One of them even was cut in half. The hero died in the end and coughed up a lot of blood (red paint?). But it was a really incredible show and I was totally engaged the entire time and found it extremely entertaining. Highly recommended as something to see if you ever have a chance to see an authentic show.
If you have high speed internet, it's worth clicking on the pictures of the puppets to see them up close. They are really elaborate and beautifully made. And you can see the girl soldier too (she was not in this particular story however...)
These puppets were made in WWII. When the Americans came to Sicily, the puppet masters would take the used soup cans of the soldiers, make the puppets and sell them to the soldiers. A single puppet could feed their family for an entire week.
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