Performance Gives Scranton Rare Glimpse of Traditional Taiwanese Puppetry
Scranton audiences will get a rare, first-hand look at traditional Taiwanese puppetry through a puppet exhibition and performances by the Taiyuan Puppet Theatre Company at The University of Scranton Oct. 24 and 25.
Brightly colored, embroidered costumes. A beautifully carved wooden stage. Traditional Taiwanese music. All of these will be on hand this month when the Taiyuan Puppet Theatre Company visits The University of Scranton.
Puppeteers and musicians will present “A Sea of Puppets” on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 24 and 25, at the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center. The performances are free and open to the public and will include a question and answer session following the performance. The performance on Oct. 24th will begin at 6 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.) The Oct. 25th performance will begin at 5:30 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.) and will include a workshop on learning traditional Taiwanese puppetry skills. Puppeteers will have materials for the audience to create their own puppet.
“A Sea of Puppets” is a romantic tale of a young man who saves a girl from the hands of a villain. Besides fight scenes and acrobatics, the show includes characters such as a scholar, clowns and even an old man smoking a real pipe. The show is suitable for an audience of all backgrounds and ages. No language skill is required.
In addition, both dates will include an exhibition of 20 Taiwanese puppets dating from the early 1900s to the present.
The Taiyuan Puppet Theatre Company was created in 2000 by Paul Lin and managing/artistic director Robin Ruizendaal, who wanted to continue the historic Taiwanese art form of glove puppetry. Since then, members have performed shows in more than 30 countries.
Glove puppetry consists of small puppets made of carved wooden heads and elaborate cloth costumes. Performers use gloved hands to bring the puppets to life. The art form originated in China’s Fujian Province in the 17th century and later spread to Taiwan, where it flourished.
The puppeteers will be Robin Ruizendaal, who holds a Ph.D. in Sinology from Leiden University in the Netherlands and is an authority on contemporary Asian puppet shows; Lai Shih-An, who is also a master puppet carver; and Lin Yen-Chih, who is also involved in the staging and graphic design of the company’s productions. The musicians are Wu Shan-Shan, Chang Shih-Neng and Huang Ching-Wei.
In conjunction with the performances, a lecture, “All the World’s a Stage: Puppets and Modern Taiwanese Identity” will be presented by Dr. Ruizendaal on Thursday, Oct. 24, at 11:30 a.m. at the Studio Theater of the McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts. The lecture is also free of charge and open to the public.
The theatre company is coming to the University through a grant from Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture. The University is one of just 12 schools in the world to participate in the program. Others include The University of California, Los Angeles, The University of Texas at Austin, The University of London and Heidelberg University. The purpose of the grant – $50,000 for the first year, and renewable for up to four years – is to develop an understanding of Taiwanese culture and society through a variety of programs at the University.
To make a group reservation call 570-941-4094. Reservations are not required for individuals.
For additional information, contact The University of Scranton at 570-941-7401.
