Reunion

Yesterday I was reminded of an extraordinary memory that I have from my time here living in Antwerp, Belgium.

Last year on this weekend, there was a weekend-long street theater performance by the Nantes-based French company Royal De Luxe, whose specialty is enormous marionettes, most notably The Sultan's Elephant, The Little Giant, and the Diver. These three characters have been used in a couple of RdL's performances, and last summer, as part of Antwerp's city summer programming, RdL put together "De Duiker, Zijn Hand en de Kleine Reuzin" (The Diver, His Hand and the Little Giant(ess). The story was a nod to the legend of Brabo and Antigoon, a type of David and Goliath feel-good story and the folk etymological origin of Antwerpen's name.

The basic premise was that the Little Giant is shipwrecked in Antwerp and she is in search of her uncle, The Diver, who has been raised out of Antwerp Harbor and is likewise searching the city for his lost niece. The city took an incredibly proactive stance on this performance in collaboration with the newspapers and city branding program, making it a true "Antwerp" event. It is reported that nearly a million people took part in the various acts throughout the weekend, the largest street performance ever.

We followed the Little Giant and the Diver for the entire weekend, seeing them in various venues ranging from the St. Jansplein, the Quays, the newly-created green space of Park Spoor Nord, (where there was a huge citywide picnic while the giants "rested" in the Park), and finally when they departed in the Little Giant's boat from London Bridge at the base of Antwerp's dominating harbor leading out to the Scheldt and to the North Sea.

What struck me the most was how incredibly attached to these characters I became in a matter of hours. By the second day I was really torn up inside that they had not found each other and felt bad that they were wandering around the city in vain. Now, that is serious performance! To make the audience care about puppets the size of four-story townhouse and weighing several tons of wood, steel, and cables and to actually become emotional about them. There was nary a dry eye when the two actually did meet in the St. Jansplein at twilight and gave each other a hug.

In the video below, you can see that meeting, but realize that there was months of build-up before this and then a day and a half of teasers of them meeting. But, when it actually happened, well, I just got goosebumps writing this, it was magical. Then, as you see, the Little Giant was so happy to find her uncle that she does an amazing little jig. So amazing that you nearly forget that there are over a dozen Lilliputian workers helping her to do this! The supporting cast was huge, but it was truly stunning how easy it was to become completely absorbed by the Diver and the Little Giant and actually believe that these helpers were really helping living creatures.

If you ever get a chance to see one of Royal De Luxe's street performances, do it. Don't even hesitate. But, they only choose about seven cities around the world, and apparently Antwerp is one of their favorites because of the enormous support that they get from the people who live here. I know that I will make sure that I have absolutely nothing planned the next time the Giants come to town.

Here they are at the citywide picnic at Park Spoor Noord and then leaving from London Bridge out to the Scheldt.