Puppets of New York Exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York Is More Than Child’s Play

By Bart Greenberg ***

It speaks of joy.

It speaks of moving forward.

—Monxo Lopez

The “it” that Monxo Lopez, the curator of the exciting new exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York, Puppets of New York, is, of course, the world of puppetry. This display encompasses many styles and genres of this art-form, from hand puppets to marionettes to life-size and beyond life-size works inhabited by humans. The exhibit room is divided into three sections: The Stage (ranging from the Yiddish theater of the 1920s to contemporary Broadway (Lion King, Avenue Q); The Set (puppets from television, including the creations of Shari Lewis and Jim Henson); and The Street (street theater and cultural celebrations from all corners of New York City).

One of the great delights of the presentation is the first appearance in a museum of her majesty Lamb Chop. She is front and center in the display, “it’s in my contract” she informed me. Or maybe it was her sister Mallory Lewis; that is, Shari’s lookalike daughter. Her mother had turned down requests in the past to include her masterpiece, the naughty little lamb, in exhibits, but Mallory figured that coming out of the pandemic was the time to celebrate her pure heart. Lopez expressed his admiration for Lewis as both creative artist and businesswoman in a time when females did not have roles of power.

Interestingly, another woman, Joan Ganz Cooney, was one of the guiding forces behind the Children’s Television Workshop that gave birth to some of the best known puppets in the world thanks to “Sesame Street,” here represented by Oscar the Grouch. The program fits right in with the theme of the exhibit, blending education, cultural awareness and emotional support. A follow up program from Jim Henson, “Fraggle Rock,” is also a part of this show.

Puppets are not just child’s play.

They often reflect the cultural changes,

Diverse communities,

And political events that impact urban life.

—Monxo Lopez

The section for The Street reflects this thought. From political parades to neighborhood cultural celebrations, puppets big and small play their part and a wide range are on display here. Two of the puppets, known as the Seneca Brothers, were used in a whimsical street theater production of Peter Pan. These happen to be Lopez’s favorite figures in the exhibit (after Lamb Chop) for their detail and artistry.

Also in this section can be found a dragon from Chinatown’s Lunar New Year celebration, puppets from the joyous and hectic Greenwich Village Halloween Day Parade, and political figures designed for the Bread and Puppet Theatre. Seeing these creations side by side the cultural and political diversity that is New York City is clearly visible.

“Puppets have been on New York City’s stages since at least the late 1800s, and they are part of what brings the city’s theaters to life.” —Monxo Lopez

Puppets have been used in professional theaters to extend the population of a stage, or to create “special effects”.  And they have also been used in the most avant-garde of productions for their emotional power. The section of the exhibit known as The Stage examines how puppets have been embraced in the Yiddish theater in the 1920s, the brilliant Bill Baird productions of the ‘60s and the Broadway musicals of the day, including such major successes as The Lion King and Avenue Q. A small video screen demonstrates how the live performer is melded into the puppet to create an animal character for the former show, joining Trekkie Monster and a representation of Duke Ellington. The humor and vitality of these performers is evident even in their docile mode.

The Museum of the City of New York, located at 1220 Fifth Ave. at 103rd St., hosts this fascinating exhibit through April 3, 2022, as well as accompanying activities for all ages.

For more information, check out the website at www.mcny.org.