Sicilian puppet theater to delight Jakartans

Sonitha, Contributor, Jakarta

Did you know that "puppets" comes from the Latin word pupus meaning little child?

When talking about puppets, one might think of the ones that fit over the hand. But traditional Pupi Siciliani (Sicilian puppets) are actually the size of little children and are also known as marionettes.

Pupi Siciliani, a unique kind of large and heavy figure controlled by strings became popular in Sicily during the eighteenth century. The marionettes are made of wood with cloth and metal accoutrements. These days a handful of marionette makers still work in Sicily, particularly in the cities of Palermo, Catania and Messina.

On Friday, thanks to the Italian Cultural Institute, an Indonesian audience will be able to enjoy an inspiring performance by Mimmo Cuticchio, a puppet master from Palermo, and his theater company at Gedung Kesenian Jakarta. The show, part of the ongoing annual JakArt@2002 program, is a rare opportunity to witness typical Sicilian folklore in Indonesia, and should not be missed by those who consider themselves art lovers.

Mimmo Cuticchio Theater Company has traveled all over the world to perform the magic of its puppet shows to crowds of all ages and backgrounds. Though many may not understand what is being said by the parlatore -- the voice behind the puppet -- people will be able to understand the show's charm.

When asked about how he became a puppeteer, Mimmo answered, "Nobody is born a puppet master or puppeteer; it is an art learned over many years. We have learned how to carve, paint and decorate each puppet. We also design the sets painted in the Sicilian folkstyle with traditional colors, using canvas for the backdrops."

The Sicilian puppets are a marvelous expression of the epic, heroic and chivalrous spirit of the medieval era. The artistic quality of the performance is a result of a careful study and a tradition handed on from generation to generation.

As the master of this art, Mimmo Cuticchio is very skillful at creating extraordinary visuals, which only adds to the emotional effect of the performance. Through his ability to vary the pitch of his voice -- from a monk to a princess -- and the gesture and interpretative movement of his puppets, like the clanking of armor, sword fights, army invasion and conquest, Mimmo certainly shows he knows how to build up the audience's excitement.

According to its history, Sicily has been occupied over the centuries by Muslims from Africa and Normans from France, so the legends of Christian Crusaders battling invaders from the East, struck a resonant chord in the imagination of spectators at puppet theaters in the 18th, 19th centuries, when the memory of foreign domination was still fresh. It was during those years that the Sicilian puppet theaters repertory was established, concentrating on the holy wars between Christians and Muslims.

The puppets depict these medieval characters and legendary events based on historical, biblical passages. The miniature warriors play out centuries-old stories from the legends of Charlemagne, the French emperor who ruled during the 8th century, and his knights, called Paladins. The Paladins march to battle and have various adventures on the way, such as rescuing a beautiful princess and killing a fire-breathing dragon.

In his puppet theater, he has hundreds of puppets with a range of characters, from emperors, knights in shining armor, maidens, Saracens and monks. They are equipped with a three-tiered stage, a dozen set changes, props and a plethora of technical equipment. Taking good care of them after every performance is another responsibility for the members of the Cuttichio family.

"Puppets are like people. Just like people wash their faces every morning, the puppets have to be polished everyday. People cut their hair and get a shave. Puppets also have to be touched up, sewn, repainted and put in order. Otherwise, they are not working puppets that represent humans. They become antiquarian objects or relics of folklore, not living puppets of the theater," says Mimmo Cuticchio.

Maintaining the tradition is not easy as the interest in puppet theater is fading with the emergence of computer animation, movies and other modern developments. However, the Cuticchio family will continue their tradition telling fairy tales, history and legends while at the same time bringing excitement to people all over the world.

For more information, please contact:

* Gedung Keseninan Jakarta, Tel: 3808283, 3441892. Tickets are priced at Rp 30,000, Rp 25,000.

* The Italian Cultural Institute, Tel: 3927531