The Sultan's Elephant, Royal de Luxe Theatre Company (2006) [art]

Giant puppets take to the streets of London

On Thursday, May 4, 2006, a rocket crashed into a sidewalk in London. Smoke billowed out overnight, and the next day, a 18-foot marionette puppet of a young girl emerged. Later that day, a 46-ton mechanical elephant and the sultan on its back greeted the girl. For three days, the girl, the sultan, and the elephant wandered around London’s parks. The elephant sprayed water from it’s trunk. The girl rode a double-decker bus. On the day of the girl’s departure, 1 million Londoners showed up to send her off.

I wish I had been there to see it. I wonder what it would be like to see my home city of San Francisco transformed and brought together, even if for a few days, even if it’s all a show.