Punch and Judy is a traditional puppet show featuring, naturally enough, Mr Punch and his wife Judy. The performance consists of a sequence of short scenes, each depicting an interaction between two characters (limited by the number of the solo puppeteer’s hands), most typically the anarchic Mr Punch and one other character who usually falls victim to the intentional violence of Punch's slapstick.
The shows are usually performed in portable booths, with the puppeteer voicing all of the characters, often using a "swazzle" … a small device made of two strips of metal bound around a cotton tape reed that is held in the mouth, to create Punch’s distinctive, high-pitched voice.
The character of Punch (originally "Pulcinella") originated in Italy as part of the 16th-century commedia dell'arte tradition. Pulcinella was a stock character known for his hunchback, big nose and mischievous behaviour. He was a trickster, often portrayed as a clever and amoral figure who outsmarts his opponents.
Punch arrived in England in the 17th century, with the first recorded performance in London in 1662 by an Italian puppeteer named Pietro Gimonde (known as Signor Bologna). This date is often celebrated as Punch’s UK "birthday”.
The English version of the character evolved into "Punchinello" and eventually "Mr Punch", and, over time, Punch’s character became more comedic and violent. His wife, Judy (originally "Joan" but that was apparently too hard to pronounce with a swazzle), was introduced as his counterpart, along with other characters such as the Baby, the Constable, Joey the Clown, the Crocodile, the Doctor, Pretty Polly, the Hangman and the Devil.
The performed Punch and Judy show often changes, but, according to Glyn Edwards, author of Successful Punch and Judy, 2000, a classic show would involve Punch mishandling the baby that had been put into his care, being scolded by Judy, then beating her with a long stick, a policeman coming for Punch and getting a taste of his stick, various other figures having a run in with Punch before he eventually faces his final foe (which might be a hangman, the devil, a crocodile or a ghost). Some of Punch’s phrases have remained the same for decades or even centuries. For example, Punch dispatches his foes each in turn and still squeaks his famous catchphrase: “That's the way to do it!”
The 19th century was the golden age of Punch and Judy shows in Britain. These performances became a popular form of street entertainment, especially in seaside towns where “Professors” – that's what they call Punch and Judy puppeteers – would perform on the beach.
Punch and Judy shows have become ingrained in British popular culture. Despite their controversial themes, the shows remain popular with both children and adults, though modern performances are often toned down. [Ed: The beatings are fine. Not so much the running Baby through a sausage-making machine or the hanging.]
Even so, modern audiences have criticised the shows for their violence and outdated gender roles, particularly Punch’s treatment of Judy. As a result, some contemporary performances adjust the storyline to make it less violent and more family-friendly.
The Punch and Judy tradition has been celebrated in many forms over the years, e.g. the editors of the British satirical magazine Punch, established in 1841, took the anarchic Mr Punch as their mascot, with the character also an inspiration for the magazine's name.
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References
wikipedia.org/wiki/Punch_and_Judy
wikipedia.org/wiki/Swazzle
wepa.unima.org/en/punch-and-judy
Images
1. Punch and Judy. Photo credit: Daniel Hanton
2. Punch and Judy both at Swanage, Dorset, England
3. Plaque at St Paul's in Covent Garden, London commemorating the first recorded performance of Punch and Judy in 1662
4. Punch or May Day, 1829 painting by Benjamin_Robert_Haydon
5. Punch and Judy in Islington, North London. Photo: Jonathan Lucas
6. Punch and Judy show at Weymouth Beach, Dorset, England
7. Swazzle used in his Punch and Judy show by Arthur William Ford (1901–1974)
8. Mr Punch depicted on the cover of Punch magazine, 26 April 1916
9. Punch and Judy show at Ilfracombe, Photo credit: Martin Paul, 1894
10. "Sunny Rhyl" British Railways poster, 1952
