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"Phra nangklao Jaoyoohua". The governor of Phatthalung Province (Nam "Pueak") took the troupe to
perform around "Nanglearng" Sub-district, in Bangkok the capital of Thailand. The people from Bangkok
called the show "Nang Phatthalung" and the sound was slightly altered and became "Nang Ta-lung".
It is believed that the shadow puppets imitated the big shadow puppets. The puppets just
decreased in size, then the narration changed and the instruments included mong. tab, klong, drum, gong and
ching. These are local musical instruments from the south. The evidence supporting the belief that shadow
puppets originated from the big shadow puppets is in the saying regarding orchestra, "Adul-oh shan shanoh
tang pong pin pat tahpon klong kah jalen hi tan tang lai doo"
Later, the show from the south or the shadow puppet was influenced by the Java show and
developed into the "puppet". The puppet of the big shadow puppet is very big and the body parts do not
move, only the hand can be moved, for the comedian or the lady characters both of them have moveable
hands. The Java puppets are different from the human shape and the face of the shadow puppets was
designed under this influence in carving the face like a cow for the character's name "Noo-nui" and the face
of "Teng" like a bird.
There is no exact evidence when the shadow puppets shO\\ wa.., mst invented. But someone
assumed that the time was around the beginning of the Rattanakosin D) nast). because during the Ayuddhaya
Dynasty no famous verses with eight syllables were found Because all poems are created by using a verse
consisting of rh)'mes and rhythm but no definite "Karb". The verse with eight syllables becoming famous
following "Sunthompoo" and "Pra-apaimance". No one is sure where in the south of Thailand the shadow
puppet show was first performed

Importance

The puppet show is a local performing art. telling a long storv like a novel. The narrator will
compose it and recite in the southern dialect. It is called "wahbof' and include-. dialogs during the show. The
show or performance is the shadow of the puppeets appearing behind a cloth for the audience to watch. This
performance is performed by onl)' one lead actor.
The shadow puppet show was well known in the past especially. in the time before the
electricity was distributed to villages. This performance may still be performed at funerals and for merit
making festivals. The shadO\\. puppet show can be seen for important celebrations. But this performance has
become an expensive form of entertainment and it is ver) complicated tc prepare the stage for the show
compared with watching a movie because before hiring the shadow puppe· troupe the host must prepare to
location for the ..,how. The '-hO\\. depends on the -.etting and skills even mor" than other entertainment forms.
The host must plan a large budget for one performance. Therefore the puppet show loses its popularity
because there are many other forms of entertainment like television that are cheaper .. This is an important
factor contributing to the disappearance of the show
The duo-shadow puppet show handlers are the ke) people and these people manage the show.
Their role is to direct the show, play the traditional musical instruments. s111g the poems and also portrait all
the different emotions: sorrow, anger, and love.

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