Guests from Mexico
Grupo Saltimbanqui, from Mexico City, performed for Puppets & Pajamas in April, presenting lively, traditional tales from their country. They performed at several schools and other venues in New Orleans, including the Kids Tent of Jazz Fest. Their show was very well received, except elicited a couple comments on their scene when two characters (obviously very simple head and costuming on two bare hands), remove their clothes to go to sleep in a little puppet bed. A couple adults found this offensive. The puppeteers were amazed, as they had never had any problem with this scene, which highlights the cultural differences in perception – and also, why it is so important to offer experiences in cultural sharing, as well as the power of puppets to engage imagination – these were actually simple bare hands!
