Giant 10-meter-tall marionettes that move and gesticulate, a wall that has "fallen from heaven" outside the Degollado Theater and a dog frozen in a block of ice in the Plaza Santuario. What's happening in downtown Guadalajara may seem surreal, but it's all part of a week-long street theater spectacle to mark Mexico's Independence bicentenary and Revolution centenary.
City workers have been busy removing overhead street cables to accommodate three giant marionettes that measure between 2.8 and 9 meters. "El Campesino," "La Pequeña Gigante" (the Little Giant) and her dog "El Xolo" weigh up to 2.5 tons and each need between 20 to 32 puppeteers to control their movements.
This open-air event is produced by Frenchman Jean Luc Courcoult and his innovative Royal de Luxe company and will remain in the downtown area until Sunday, November 28.
Courcoult has travelled to Belgium, England, Germany, Iceland and Aust
ralia with his marionette street theater. Although the three marionettes were recently a part of a Chilean production, they have been redesigned with distinctly Mexican features for the Guadalajara performance. "El Campesino" for example, boasts a mustache made from horse hair and a large straw sombrero while "La Pequeña Gigante" is dressed in traditional clothes from Morelos.
The connection between giants and Mexico's key historical milestones may also seem tenuous but the French company has carefully melded the two together. The five-day spectacular will use the giants to narrate the legend of Migual Hidalgo's legendary "Grito de Dolores." The story follows that this cry for independence was heard by "El Campesino" but when he appeared before the rebel forces they feared he would kill Hidalgo and buried the giant in a hidden sarcophagus. Two centuries later, his niece, the stern revolutionary "La Pequeña Gigante," finds her dog "El Xolo" in a block of ice and they embark on the search for his sarcophagus. The event culminates on Sunday when the three giants are reunited and celebrate by traversing across the city's main avenues.
Most of Royal de Luxe's shows progress in a similar way. In a recent event in London, England, a local blogger summed up the event in this way: "An animal or giant arrives in town and lives its life, going about its business for a few days. Extraordinary interactions take place between passers-by and the performance; residents become enchanted with the activities of these miraculous beings and begin to follow their every move. By the end of the performance, huge crowds gather daily to watch the latest episode in the life of the visiting creature."
Guadalajara's event has already stirred intrigue and confusion with the appearance of an enormous wall and mural in front of the Teatro Degollado. On Tuesday, the mural "fell from the heavens" much to the surprise of the public. The mural depicts the journey of the giants and the history of Mexico. On Wednesday, passers-by were surprised to find "Xolo" – Mexico's emblematic hairless xoloitzcuintle breed – frozen in a 4x10-meter block of ice in the Plaza Santuario, on Avenida Alcalde, across from the Federal Palace.
For others, their confusion may be largely related to the sudden closure of some of Guadalajara's main arteries. Parts of Alcalde/16 de Septiembre and Avenida Hidalgo will be closed between Thursday to Sunday as the giant marionettes develop their story.
In addition to the daily activities, the organizers are eager to note that the giants will be "alive" for their entire stay in Guadalajara. People are invited to see the giants snoring and breathing while they sleep at night across from the Glorieta La Normal. The spectacle of the giants promises to be an exciting and unique event. Bring a camera and capture the larger than life production. Don't worry they don't smell the blood of an Englishman. For more information about the event see www.bicentenario.gob.mx.
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