Two puppet figures in bright green and gold brocade, with comic pointed hats are engaged in conversation, on stage. Almost life-sized, these puppets' gestures are so lifelike, even their eyebrows and tiny fingers move. Behind the puppets stand three men clothed in black operating the puppet bodies with deftly choreographed moves.

Welcome to the world of Bunraku: traditional Japanese puppet theater. Asian Dance and Music Program will give you a chance to experience Japan's widely acclaimed Tonda Traditional Puppet Theater at Rand Theater on October 9, 2001 at 7:30. The Tonda Puppet Troupe is now designated an Intangible Cultural Treasure in Japan and has delighted audiences throughout the world.

Bunraku puppets are assembled from several components: wooden head, shoulder board, trunk, arms, legs, and costume. The head has a grip with control strings to move the eyes, mouth, and eyebrows. Arms and legs are hung from the shoulder board with strings, and the costume fits over the shoulder board and trunk. Master puppeteers, visible to the audience, control large puppet dolls, while a narrator tells the story. Three man teams operate the largest puppets, which can be up to five feet tall. Holding a large warrior puppet can be an exercise in endurance since they weigh up to fifty pounds.

Through movement and gestures and the audience's imagination, great expressiveness can be achieved. Because the puppeteers are visible, spectators can concentrate on the story and on the skill of the puppeteers. While watching Buraku, these two perceptions eventually merge into a whole appreciation of the theatrical event.

Patrons can also elect to attend a pre-concert lecture on Bunraku Puppet Theater at 7:00 with Professor Jane Marie Law, Professor of Japanese Religions at Cornell University.

Don't miss the Bunraku Traditional Puppet Theater at the Fine Arts Center. For tickets, call the Fine Arts Center Box Office at 545-2511 or 1-800-999-UMAS, or go online to www.fineartscenter.com.