By MICHAEL BOYLAN
Weekend Editor

The art of puppetry spans cultures. No matter what the nationality of the performers or the audience, the message can be conveyed through the movements and the facial expressions of the puppets.

Two amazing Chinese puppeteers will be performing at the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta this weekend, entertaining audiences with their marionettes and hand puppets.

Huang Yi Que of Quanzhou Marionettes will engage the audience with tales from the Far East. Through intricate string arrangement and manipulation, Que breathes life and spirit into his marionettes. His performance includes scenes from classical Chinese stories, as well as contemporary comedic bits such as his famous monkey riding a bicycle. Though Que has toured extensively throughout Europe and Asia, this show will mark his debut on American soil.

Que also uses hand puppets during his performance, but not as much as the other performer this weekend, Yang Feng. Feng is a fifth generation hand puppeteer, who recently immigrated to the U.S. He began training in the family tradition at age 11. He was named to the National Dramatist's Association in China, making him the only puppeteer and the youngest member to achieve this status. Often called the “Jim Henson of China” because of his impact of his work on the country's puppet masters,

Feng performs the Hungry Tiger and other tales from China. The puppets on Feng's hands wordlessly perform great feats of martial arts and comedic follies. Some characters that come to life for Feng are a hungry tiger, a fisherman, dueling warriors, a phenomenal circus balancing act and more accompanied by music from the Orient.

There is plenty to do at The Center for Puppetry Arts on top of viewing the Chinese Masters show. There is a hands-on museum that can be toured two hours before the show as well as special exhibits. The exhibits that are currently running are: Alice on Broadway, Basil Milovsoroff: 21st Century Artist, and Reflections of Puppetry in Posters.

The show is suggested for audiences 12 and up. Tickets for the Chinese Masters show are $16 for adults and $12 for students and seniors with a valid ID. The show will be presented at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 5 p.m. Sunday. Tickets include admission to the museum. For information, call 404-873-3391.

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