<p>The action takes place in the backstage of a puppet theatre, where the puppets are hung. To his companions’ disbelief, the Doctor claims that he has read in a book that puppets are carried by strings manipulated by men. Colombina proposes to show that men are also held by a string – a string that binds their heart. All the puppets tell a story about the meanness or the sadness of human life. Colombina concludes that, perhaps, the string is invisible to those who are held by it, and that, just like men, puppets do not realise what ties them. Her companions do not believe her, and while they lay out of their belief that they are autonomous, the puppeteers remove them one by one from the room where they were kept and makes them go on stage – the show is about to begin.</p>

Not specified

Italy

Turin

Printed

Thread

Love

Avarice

Vanity

Philosophy

Autonomy

Wickedness

Philosophical tale

Satirical

<p>Illustration by Edoardo Calandra, representing Eleonora Duse</p>

Italian

Scena filosofico-morale per marionette

Puppeteer

Apparition of the puppeteer

Conversation

Prologue

Play in verse

Metatheatre

Metadiscourse on puppet theatre

Alternating narrative / dialogue

Argument

Speechless character

Il Filo