How wonderful to see Mr. Punch at
Lustleigh Show on Bank Holiday Monday.
Not only the kids, but dozens of attention
rapt adults absolutely adored the whole
performance of mayhem and cruelty.
Listening, I found myself back in my memory
to Scarborough in the early 50's when we stayed
on holiday with relatives and we kids were
allowed to just go off to the beach every day
to enjoy ourselves without any parents.
I was the youngest and only girl in a tribe of boy
cousins, my brother being 5 years older
than me and the others Alan and Colin of
similar ages to him. It was only natural that they
would want to offload me wasn't it?
So they would plonk me on the sand in front of the Punch and Judy man and I would sit transfixed as Mr. Punch beat the hell out
of everyone including his loyal wife Judy, the poor damaged baby, the
dog and the crocodile
whilst all the while crying "That's the way to do
it !"
in his strange swazzlestick voice.
I must have watched the antics over and over again.
In those days you weren't charged an entrance fee, you just enjoyed the show and towards the end of each performance a young girl came around with a red velvet bag attached to a handle, like the one in church, and the grown ups were encouraged to pay up. I used to nurse the idea that I should like my Dad to run a Punch and Judy outfit, so that I could walk around with that bag.
There's a great deal of actual cruelty in the show, as Mr. Punch lets fly with a great stick, and the Policeman is fairly inept as he entreats the children to shout out loudly if they see the old reprobate up to his nasty tricks again. The kids get well and truly wound up just a few seconds later as Punch gets hold of the baby yet once more and administers a few hefty whacks, all the while chortling with laughter and triumph.
I find it rather comforting that some of the very young children watching get up from the floor in their urgency to call the policeman back in order to stop such unfair treatment. They simply can't wait for this unfair behaviour to be sorted out and peace and calm to be restored.
Maybe the youths in the recent riots missed out on seeing Punch (aptly named) and Judy, and they weren't taught the rules of fair play? It's good that even very young children can watch the whole story unfold. Mr. P is portrayed as a baddie. Of course he gets his comeuppance in the end and the audience leaves feeling that they played a part in restoring order.
If I had my way I would show it on the telly in place of these softly spoken, pastel shaded cartoon figures with their unbelievably friendly butterflies, talking flowers, spinoff comics, cd's, toys and Nanny knows best notions.
Rock on Mr. Punch ! That's the way to do it !
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