Getting Punchy

Who can talk about puppetry for any age group without drifting to that most delightfully acerbic of all marionettes, that comical ne’er-do-well Punch?

Not that the hook-nosed buffoon has ever, by any means, offered “family-friendly” entertainment.

In fact, with his spew of curses, Punch surely embodies an early foray into adult entertainment, especially when joined by his abusive puppet-wife, Judy.

Adding to the mayhem of Punch and Judy shows, the characters took to brandishing sticks with small paddles that made a slapping sound when they hit anything — usually each other. With these devices, Punch and Judy became the first slapstick comedians.

Get it?

According to punchandjudyworld.org, the famous Punch dates back to 14th-century Italy, where he was portrayed by wandering theater troupes. It wasn’t until a couple of centuries later that he merged with the British glove puppet and gained himself a spouse. These puppet shows were often banned from proper theater venues and were thus performed in the streets.

While the material may have been considered uncouth, it’s unlikely that, in those dark days of public beheadings, a little bad language and spousal abuse was considered unfitting amusement for young audiences.

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

About Alli Marshall
Alli Marshall has lived in Asheville for more than 20 years and loves live music, visual art, fiction and friendly dogs. She is the winner of the 2016 Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize and the author of the novel "How to Talk to Rockstars," published by Logosophia Books. Follow me @alli_marshall

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.