Punch and Judy

Our performance of Punch and Judy, the ever-controversial street play of Victorian England, has been enjoyed by audiences in Galveston's Dickens Festival and at the SW Regional Festival of Puppeteers of America. Currently, a Renaissance version is being performed at the Louisiana Renaissance Festival in Hammond, Louisiana every weekend in November and the first two weekends in December. The costumes the carved puppets and puppeteers wear are entirely authentic.

Punch and Judy continues to enthrall audiences of young and old alike. Ours is no exception. For two years now we have performed at the Dickens On the Strand Festival in Galveston, Texas. The crowds never seem to be disappointed.

What about the "violence" you may be wondering? Well, never fear. It's in there! We do however understand the concern of parents about today's young audiences being subjected to shows about toys hitting each other over their wooden toy heads with big red toy sticks. We have therefore made the following modifications in our show in keeping with the policies of the ASPCP (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Puppets):

1)Mr. Punch does not actually throw a real baby out of the window. He is given a "toy" baby to play with by Judy, in order to prove that he could be responsible enough to hold the "real thing".....he fails miserably.

2)Mr. Punch does not actually beat anyone to a complete and utter death. They are only "mostly" dead and are all too willing to let the audience know that, much to the chagrin of the aforementioned Punch.

3)The crocodile, dog, and Joey the clown are all additionally secured and kept from harm by the ASPCCDC (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Crocodiles, Dogs, and Clowns)

4)Mr. Punch does hang the hangman in full view of the audience until he is dead, dead, dead...but not really. The hangman is protected by the ASPCH (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Hangmen) He, too, is only "mostly" dead. Note: We are currently negotiating with the newly formed, politically correct counterpart, the ASPCHW (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Hang Women). Auditions for this new character are being held currently by Judy. See bottom for details.

5)The devil is a non-denominational entity who is beat upon the head until he is dead. Punch then rightly proclaims: "Huzzah, Huzzah, the devil is dead. Now we may all do as we like!" (note: the devil is not actually harmed in this production as he is a member of the ASPCD....the American Society for....well you know.)