THE STAGE IS a dark blue box. On top of the box is a wooden chaise lounge, where a little lady puppet reclines. She sings, “Upon lifting my head and looking, how strange! Why has a scholar come to the garden?” A male puppet appears, replying, “Ah, I had no idea! Please don’t take offense, Miss. Since this is a private garden and I have disturbed you, I should leave at once.”
The scene is from The Peony Pavilion, the finale at the Penang Puppet Festival 2025. A collaboration between Malaysia’s Ombak Potehi, Taiwan Smile Folksong Group and Penang master puppeteer Chuah Saw Tin, the show brought smiles to the audience as they followed a 16th-century Chinese classical story about two lovers strolling in a garden.
The puppets move skilfully and gracefully: lazing in their chairs, falling asleep on a table, holding hands, and finally, embracing for a happy-ending kiss. Children sit on the lawn, enthralled by the colours, costumes, music and storytelling. Next to the stage, a projector screen displays subtitles in Mandarin and English.
