The lights started to dim as people of all ages filled the audience seats.  There was a lot of chatter and rustle going on when the curtains rose up, almost as if the audience was reluctant for the show to start because they were expecting a boring performance by the Happy Puppetry Company. As soon as the curtains rose, the audience sat back in their seats and prepared for the worst. After all, like a loud member of the audience pointed out, “Who in the world would name themselves the Happy Puppetry Company?” The program that was handed out in the beginning of the show stated that the Happy Puppetry Company is directed by leading Taiwanese puppeteers: Mrs. Szu-mei, Ko Chiang, Chai-Tsai ho, and Shih-hung. Travelling around the world, they have arrived today at New York Chinese School in order to perform a Chinese traditional story of “Wu-Song, The Tiger Hero.” Although, the story of “Wu-Song, The Tiger Hero” was bland and predictable, the intricate puppet house, skilled puppet movements and vibrant music overshadowed any flaws that might have been present in the plot line.

As the lights dimmed, the audience immediately focused on the brightly lit stage. The incredibly beautiful puppet house placed right in the center of the stage automatically became the audience’s focal point. Decorated with red and gold Chinese fabric, the puppet house can only be described as one of a kind. The red and gold glitter and embroidery used to decorate the house transported the audience to imaginary times back in the days when people believed that kings and dragons existed. The puppet house grabbed the audience’s attention with its vibrant colors and exquisite design and just refused to let go. The puppet house is set up so that there are two floors and three openings on each floor. An additional red fabric covered the openings so that the audience will not be able to see the puppeteers that are working behind the scenes.

The performance started with a literal bang, and was then followed by drums and traditional Chinese music. The drums quickened the audience’s pulse and created a sense of excitement and anxiety as they sat back and waited for the show to start. Out popped a miniature puppet tiger. Just as quickly, the miniature puppet tiger disappeared again in such amazing speed that half of the audience might not even have noticed. Wait did that really happen? Questions like that befuddled the audience’s brains as the puppet tiger popped out again. Then again. This happened again and again; until the audience couldn’t help but try to guess which opening the tiger is going to pop out from next time. Suddenly, a person appeared from another opening. As the person walked leisurely across the puppet house, the audience held their breaths and waited in anticipation while they desperately wanted to warn the person to be aware of the vicious tiger making its path towards him. The tiger pounced onto the person with alarming grace and lethality that would have perhaps put a real tiger to shame, making the audience gasp in shock and awe, as the pitiful person became the tiger’s victim.

The tiger continued its methods of killing every unsuspecting person that dared crossed its path, wrecking terror and havoc in the small town of Jing Yang Gang. Eventually, people decided that it was imperative to get rid of the tiger in order to protect the innocent townspeople of Jing Yang Gang.  Four different warriors attempted to intercept the tiger’s path and all four warriors lost. This is the part where every member of the audience could probably guess what would happen next. Of course, all four warriors had to lose in order for a new hero to come.  Of course, people will despair and wonder whether they will ever get rid of the tiger. Of course, a new hero will need to come along just in time to save the town. When that new hero came along, it’s no surprise that he will fight the tiger and win. The story followed quite a predictable path and the audience’s suspicions were confirmed when Wu Song, the protagonist of the story, came in, fought courageously with the tiger and won. Cliché? Yes, the audience probably already knew.

“Wu Song, The Tiger Hero” is a traditional folk story that is quite prominent in Chinese culture. Some who are familiar with Chinese culture might even say that this story is overrated and hackneyed. Using this story as a platform, the Happy Puppetry Company risked losing that surprising and climatic element necessary to catch the audience’s attention and make the overall performance enchanting and original.

However, the focal point was not in the story’s plot, but it was in the puppet’s movements. The incredible execution of Wu Song’s continuous flips, turns, and cartwheels, the detailed and intricate movement of the town’s chief as he writes a letter to Wu Song, the complex moves of the tiger as it pounced and leaped and jumped on Wu Song all captured the audience’s attention into mindless oblivion to any other flaw the performance might have showcased. The tiger would navigate around the puppet house with such grace and speed, Wu Song would do cartwheels and flips that defy gravity and the audience would simply marvel because they never so much as glimpsed the puppeteers’ hands behind the scenes. Perhaps by using a traditional and somewhat overrated story, the Happy Puppetry Company provided the audience with the opportunity to appreciate the skills displayed by the puppeteers, rather than being caught up in the plot of the story.

Although the plot was predictable and cliché at times, the audience could not help but be captivated by the creativity and skill of the puppeteers. The hours and work that they must have dedicated to that thirty-minute performance is unfathomable. It was no wonder that people of all ages came to witness this performance, seeing that the performance was an art form that stimulated almost all of the five senses. Suffice to say, the skill and presentation of this performance were far more important and interesting than the story. Any flaws of the plotline were soon forgotten, as the audience wowed at another cleanly executed flip by Wu Song as he attacks the tiger and becomes the local hero.