A group for all ages that loves the Punch and Judy Puppet shows!
Below is a brief history of the shows by Philip W. Ford.
Mr. Punch has a history going back to the time of Shakespeare. He began life as a live actor in Naples, Italy in1600. He was originally an actor in a White costume with small black mask with a long nose. He was called "Pulcinella" which means little chicken.
He was a very popular character in the Commedia D'ell Arte. He traveled all through Europe, where in France someone got the clever idea to make him into a marionette, a puppet on strings. He changed his name to Policinelle and changed his clothes to a bright red and yellow costume. He skipped across the English Channel, in the late 1600's, where he became Punchinello and he was the toast of London. He gained a wife named Joan and they starred in every puppet play of the day. In 1800, the economy was tight so Punch and Joan made some changes, they became hand puppets and Joan, like all fashionable actresses, changed her name to Judy. They gained a family and a vast ensemble of characters like the Doctor, The Policeman, The Clown, and the Crocodile!!
Their show is wild, crazy, and dare I say it is a tad slapstick. Punch beats everyone up but it is all in good fun! It is very much like the humor of clowns in the circus, knockabout craziness! Have fun with it and laugh! Laughter is the message of Punch and Judy.
Check out Philip’s web site at: http://www.unclephil.biz/