Marionettes

Marionettes are puppets that are moved by string. They have jointed bodies, which allow them to be jerked about by string, producing movement similar to humans. The body of a marionette was traditionally made of wood, but with the advancement of technology there are marionettes made out of plastic and other synthetic fibers available to create a more life like effect. Marionettes are a delightful form of puppets that have a definitive history. The word marionette is a diminutive form of the name Mary, meaning little Mary. Originally, the churches in Europe used marionettes as a part of their services. Marionettes were used to act out stories from the Bible, as a means of teaching the population which was largely illiterate. At the same time, marionettes were used to put on plays for children and adults alike, and their popularity as entertaining characters soon wore out their welcome in the churches. Their banishment from the church did nothing to hurt the marionettes, and they were soon found on many street corners and fairs.

Marionettes were received differently in different parts of Europe. For example, in Germany, the art of using marionettes became a highly developed form of theater. It was not unusual to see operas and the great plays performed by a troupe of marionettes. In Italy, the marionettes were used as a source of media, recounting events of wars and other happenings. Manipulating a marionette takes considerable skill, so the art of marionette shows is highly respected in the world of theater.

Marionettes can be found to this day in box theaters, curtain theaters, and black light theaters. It is also possible to see marionettes in television. Children's shows like Sesame Street relied heavily on marionettes, and modern day pop stars like N'Sync have had music videos featuring the singers as marionettes. In the musical the Sound of Music, there is an entire scene where marionettes are used, and in a recent Broadway hit Wicked there is a large marionette of a dragon used in many scenes. Marionette shows have always been entertaining, as well as educational; therefore their popularity as a form of theater has not diminished. To this day there are marionette performances all over Europe, as well as America. As long as there are children and adults that love puppet shows, marionettes will continue to be an endearing facet of the performing arts.




History of Czech Marionette Culture. Czech Marionettes. 2004. http://www.czechmarionettes.com/published_v1/Histo ry.v1.aspx October 20, 2006

BUMA, Virtual Museum of Marionettes. Civil School of Milano- Participation Foundation. 2006. http://www.buma.it/ October 20, 2006.