![]() The Shadow Puppet Theatre in Performance Keeping Tradition Alive by Penelope Cole As a conclusion to this chapter on theatrical conventions and practices for the Malaysian shadow puppet theatre, listed here are some of the efforts being made to pre- serve the conventions and practices within their traditional form. This one-of-a-kind form of Wayang Kulit, more accurately called Wayang Kertas (Paper Show), stands as a testimony to the ultimate accessibility of the shadow puppet theatre and its ability to generously accommodate varying levels of ability and wealth. Walking away from his home on that same dirt road, I left with a newfound admiration for both him as an artist and the form of shadow puppet theatre itself. His spirited performance, interrupted only by his annoyance with his limitations, and the seriousness with which he approached his art touched me deeply. Without access to proper training or even the supplies usually needed to create a wayang theatre, Hassan persevered, inspired by his love of the stories and the fantastic characters who people them so grandly. On a brighter note, he boasted that some men have been known to drive several kilometers to pick him up and take him home to perform for their children when their televisions were not working. ![]() ![]() The Shadow Puppet Theatre of Malaysia Cardboard shadow puppets made by Dalang Hassan held up by children who gathered to watch his performance (photograph by Beth Osnes). ![]()
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