Punch And Judy Show

Chronicle (Levin), 9 March 1948, Page 2

Punch And Judy Show

For n'early 300 years- Punch and Judy shows have been a popular form of entertainment in Britain— approximately in 1658 the first 'marionette shows appeared in England. Although the early history of the minia-ture stage is shrouded in tt«e mists of time, i't seems that marionettes came from Europe to the Court of Charles II. Fepys in his diary records;;a perfqrmance at Whitehall on October 2/ 1662, and it is known that these wooden flgures performed . themes from legends land |1ihd{Bibie foF'kl century after4ards. ! *'" • 1 A . '■ ! Qradually the puppets gave daiices, Jigs, . sarabapdg, ,q,nd qua'dT rille, . eventually r representing - -English folk humour. Then it was that the inimitable Punch appeared,; an English adaption of t$e ' Italian Punchinello. Today Punch has developed into a eharacter typifyiftg the humour of the age. Punch changes with the times, but yet retains his ancient quality of poking fun, of battling with evil, of appearing triumphant in his many trials and tribulationsr-but in- the final reckoning; always having to pay the price for liik wickedhess. However, the.clever puppetry presented" by Professor Royston in George Tollerton's Big Magic Show at the Civic Theatre, next Wednesday night, . can move an audience to uncontrohable laughtfer and delight Just as do experienced living actors The modern Punch and Judy show is stage drama in miniature.