The Earth being in a near-apocalyptic state after several wars, the survivors seek universal reconciliation and want to create a world in which everyone will be happy, albeit identical and average. Pierrot arrives; the song he is singing about the Moon stirs up a desire for military conquest. When they land on the Moon, the Terriens (Earthlings) are so well received that they do not dare speak of their plan of conquering the Moon; instead, they forsake war once and for all. Mutual visits are planned: the Lunariens (a made-up word for “residents of the Moon”) will come to the next Chicago Fair.

Shadow theatre

Not specified

Utrillo Miquel

France

Paris

États-Unis

Chicago

Printed summary

Science fiction

Peace

Happiness

Monotony

Uniformity

Boredom

Journey

Poetry

Party

Procession

Visit

Universal Exposition

Social harmony

Moon

Conquest of space

Invention

Satirical

Programme of the Théâtre des ombres parisiennes, Columbian World's Fair, Chicago, 1893.

French

Pierrot

Inhabitants on the moon

Opposite worlds

Plot twist

Song

La Conquête de la lune

The Conquest of the Moon

Don Johnny Bernard Bull (alias Sly-Boots) and Don Taffy Muggins (alias Swagsman) are observing the inside of a house, each from a window. It is the house of Looney, “the Magic Idiot”, and it is full of magical objects. Sly-Boots enters to ask for a remedy, and Looney, who is a wizard, shows him how to create blue sky by mixing two different powders of his own invention. The process is too complicated for Sly-Boots, who refuses to buy it and blames him for trying to sell it at a ridiculous price. Taking advantage of Looney’s distraction, Sly-Boots steals his powders. Blind Boy arrives and shows Sly-Boots how he can see the future in a page of The English Review. He then creates blue sky with Looney; meanwhile, Cockatrice arrives in her turn. In the village square, Sly-Boots meets up with Muggins. He wants them to try out the powder he has stolen, but it is not working: Sly-Boots falls asleep and dreams. Muggins goes to Looney and asks him to buy some powder; he learns that Sly-Boots has stolen another powder and can die from it. Because Muggins threatens him, Looney offers him a magic mirror to coax him. Looney shows Muggins how to make it with two pouches of powder and convinces him to leave his home without him noticing. Realizing that Looney tricked him, Muggins threatens him again, but Blind Boy and Looney begin to play the opening act of Mozart’s The Magic Flute. The song summons a king and a queen riding near a stream, and a blue moon rising in the sky. A silvery morning and gilded evening follow, then a Puppet turns to the audience to advise them to mindfully experience the music, and forget the thieves and the insane.

String marionette

Craig Edward Gordon

Italy

Rapallo

Rome

Printed

Magic

Theft

Punishment

Azure

Comical

Fantasy

Edward Gordon Craig, Looney or the Magic Idiot

English

A Sketch for a Little Farce for Marionettes

Magician

Thief

Cockatrice

Basilic

Blind Boy

Blind

Compartmented stage

Magic act

Avista

Improvised dialogue

Instrumental tune

Apparition

Address to the public

Blue Sky

Gretl complains about Casperl's absence, as he always comes home late and very drunk. When he finally arrives, she gets angry and wishes he would go to the Gold Star or the Silver Moon (these are the names of the taverns Casperl frequents) and never return. Her wish seems to come true when a small gold star appears to Casperl asleep and takes him against his will to the moon. At the end of an adventurous journey through different regions of the sky, Casperl is welcomed by the moon; but, exhausted, he falls asleep. When he wakes up, he is in his bed. Did his cosmic journey ever take place? No matter: Casperl resumes his tour of the taverns on behalf of the drinkers' association founded the day before and which has elected him inspector of drinking establishments.

All audiences

Klinger-Schmid Babette

Germany

Munich

Manuscript

Tavern

Sleep

Cloud

Spirits

Fear

Tempest

Cold

Spaceship

Man in the moon

Dream

Excessive drinking

Beer

Flight

German

Ein Casperlerlebnis in 3 Aufzügen

Madame Kasperl

Kasperl

Star

Spirit

Divinity

Veau lunaire

Monologue

Domestic scene

Word for another

Animated natural element

Thunderbolt

Transforming scenery

Light effects

Casperls Mondfahrt

Casperl's moon trip

A child escapes the war in Spain on a globe. He reaches the clouds and, soon enough, the sky. He means to relate outside Earth what is happening in his country, and to ask for help so that democracy and freedom, which are being threatened, prevail in Europe. He starts a conversation with the stars, which are aware of the state of things, then with an angel, a small planet and a joyful and friendly demon. Together, they summon the stars, armies of angel warriors and legions of demons to protect the world against the evil which is tearing Spain and Europe apart.

Child

Angel

Devil

Activist theatre

Agit-prop

Spain

Teatro de Urgencia

Spanish

Flying machine

Las Barandillas del cielo

The Balustrade in the sky

Saint Pierre (Saint Peter), helped by four cherubs, prepares the scene of the Nativity. He rehearses the hymns, and sends the star to the Rois Mages (Biblical Magi) who are gathering at Melchior’s house, from where they will start the journey. In the stable of Matthieu (Matthew), mayor of Bethlehem, Chérubin (Cherub) gives the animals the ability to speak for one evening; they make fun of humans. Meanwhile, Pascal, the mayor’s blind son, urges his parents to search the stable without explaining what he is looking for. Two shepherds argue before being lectured by a third one who urges them to get going. The Rois Mages stop at Hérode’s (Herod) house, who wants to know where they are going. Matthieu visits the scribe Estève, in charge of the census, and the hoteliers Barabbas and Iscariote (Iscariot): the latter complains about the bad behaviour of his son Judas. Saint Joseph and the Vierge Marie (Virgin Mary) turn up for the census and ask the hoteliers for a room, but they refuse. Saint Pierre takes them to his stable that he sets up for the birth of Jésus and the arrival of the popular characters. Pascal miraculously gets his sight back, and the Rois Mages arrive.

Glove-puppet

Gignoux Hubert

Czechia

Moravská Třebová

Crib

Biblical Magi

Nativity

Christmas preparations

Prison camp

Miracle

Disobedient child

Christmas

Religious

Hubert Gignoux, Noël des anges, 1945. Marcelle Moynier’s copy (Puppet Theatre of Geneva)

Saint Peter

Caspar

Wise Men (Biblical Magi)

Horse

Goat

Sheep

Mayor

Shepherd

Herod

Barabbas

Countryside ranger

Donkey

Joseph

Virgin Mary

Judas

Melchior

Balthazar

Object coming to life

Talking animal

Canticle

Noël des anges

The Angels' Christmas

Papa (Dad) and Maman (Mum) celebrate Bébé’s (Baby) birthday. They eat cake, drink champagne, play music and are happy. Pap’s and Mam’s, Bébé’s grandparents, comment on the scene without partaking in it, for they died in a bombing.