A play which fuses Hans Christian Andersen’s most beloved fairy tales with Vietnam’s famous water puppetry will be taken to Quai Branly Museum in Paris late next month to kick off the 2014 Vietnam Year in France.

The 60-minute play, put on by Vietnam Puppetry Theater and promoted in France by the France Interarts Riviera SA, will feature three popular fairy tales by the revered Danish author, namely “Den lille Havfrue” (The little mermaid), “Den grimme Ælling” (The Ugly Duckling), and “Den standhaftige Tinsoldat” (The Steadfast Tin Soldier).

Some 100 puppets will be restored to be suitable for the performance in a 0.5m-deep lake, shallow compared to the usual 1m of water. With its slow movements and melodic music arranged by French composer Henry Torgue, the play promises to be idyllic and enthralling.

According to Jean - Luc Larguier, head of the Interarts Riviera SA, the play is set to be staged from Dec 26. After 10 performances, if the play receives positive feedback, the organization will consider taking the play on a long tour.

Eight years ago, a similar water puppetry performance featuring four of Andersen’s fairy tales was also staged. The unique blend earned the play a Gold Medal at the International Puppetry Festival in 2010, hosted by Vietnam.

“The play has been ‘shelved’ for some eight years after the performance. Many of the puppets have sustained serious damage. I really hope the play will be revived after this performance tour,” shared artist Ngo Quynh Giao, scriptwriter, puppet designer, and co-director of this year’s play.

“Vietnamese water puppetry is capable of telling various stories and having many surprises in store. Take, for instance, the water puppetry play titled “The teacher,” a collaboration between French director Dominique Pitoiset and the Vietnam Puppetry Theater. The highly poetic play, which told of the origin of water puppetry, was performed some 100 times in France though it hasn’t been staged at home due to technological problems,” said Larguier, who has worked in Vietnamese water puppetry for 30 years.

The French expert also noted that Vietnam needs more artists dedicated to the time-honored art to not only preserve it but also help it thrive at home and abroad.