In Reply to: Wayang Kulit, Shadow Puppet Shows? posted by BJC on Wednesday, 14. September 2005 at 12:06 Bali Time:
Although Sanur is not exactly my part of the woods in Bali, I can safely venture that there are no Wayang performances in Sanur, except in connection with the Odalans at the local temples, and private family ceremonies, such as tooth filings, weddings, etc.
In Ubud, at Oka Kartini, on Main St., there are scheduled performances (a better word would be hour-long demonstrations) several times per week. And since several years ago, there are also short (nightly?) demo-performances at a place on Monkey Forest Rd. I've never attended these, but I am sure it would give you a good feel for this art form. Both demos are in the evenings.
If you can afford it, you can commission your own Wayang performance by contacting a "dalang" (puppeteer), but it is expensive. The great dalang, Wayan Wija (my favorite), can do part of the show in English, if required. It would allow you to appreciate the talent, cleverness and humor of the performer. I remember a performance he gave at the Ubud Bale Banjar (across from the Ubud Palace) where the purpose of the show was to educate the Balinese public about recycling plastics, and it eventually included condoms (!?). He had the place roaring with laughter, so much so I thought the roof of the bale was going to come down...