Friday Fun: Mr. Punch and Scaramouche

Mr. Punch and Scaramouche
George Cruikshank, 1827
From the George Speaight Punch and Judy Archive
at The Victoria and Albert Museum

We have previously enjoyed a video by Australian Punch and Judy Man, Chris van der Craats which showed us a recent recreation of some of George Cruikshank’s 1827-era drawings of the “Comical Tragedy or Tragical Comedy of Mr. Punch.” Here’s another recreation—complete with Piccini Punch. This one shows Mr. Punch and Scaramouche.

In the early Nineteenth Century version of the puppet show, Mr. Scaramouche was Mr. Punch’s neighbor and the original owner of Dog Toby. Punch encounters Dog Toby who bites his “beautiful nose,” and, then, Scaramouche confronts Punch about harassing his terrier. Punch confused Scaramouche by dancing with him, and, then beating him with his cudgel—eventually, taking Dog Toby as his own companion. This video begins just after Punch has had his first meeting with Dog Toby.  

Friday Fun: Mr. Punch and the Devil

Drawings by George Cruikshank, 1828

This video clip from 2012’s May Fayre and Mr. Punch’s 350th birthday was filmed by Australia’s Chris van der Craats. I’m not sure who the professor is, but he has given us a wonderful recreation of one of George Cruikshank’s famous 1820s illustrations of Mr. Punch. In this scene, Punch is defeating the Devil. That’s the way to do it!

Friday Fun: Punch and the Beadle

The Beadle
as envisioned by Chris van der Craats

Well, as much as I love him, I must admit that Mr. Punch is a rather naughty fellow. For all of his cuteness and charm, he does occasionally do some things that just aren’t “the way to do it.” So, it’s inevitable that his actions should attract the attention of the law. In traditional Punch & Judy shows, Punch is confronted by a variety of representatives of the law. He usually meets a constable or beadle, a judge, and even the hangman. Still, we know that the wooden-headed hero can “beat the Devil,” so something as simple as escaping the law shouldn’t be too difficult for him.

Let’s watch this snippet from a Punch & Judy show as performed by Australian Punch Judy Man, “Professor Whatsit,” also known as Chris van der Craats. I have a particular fondness for van der Craats’ puppets. He makes them himself and they are some of the best out there. These puppets have the look and charm of the figures used in the earliest Punch performances. You can buy Professor Whatsit’s hand-made puppets on his Web site.

Friday Fun: Mr. Punch and Scaramouche

Mr. Punch and Scaramouche
George Cruikshank, 1827
From the George Speaight Punch and Judy Archive
at The Victoria and Albert Museum

In the early Nineteenth Century version of the puppet show, Mr. Scaramouche was Mr. Punch’s neighbor and the original owner of Dog Toby. Punch encounters Dog Toby who bites his “beautiful nose,” and, then, Scaramouche confronts Punch about harassing his terrier. Punch confused Scaramouche by dancing with him, and, then beating him with his cudgel—eventually, taking Dog Toby as his own companion. This video begins just after Punch has had his first meeting with Dog Toby.  

Friday Fun: Mr. Punch and Scaramouche

Mr. Punch and Scaramouche
George Cruikshank, 1827
From the George Speaight Punch and Judy Archive
at The Victoria and Albert Museum

Here’s another recreation of George Cruikshank’s 1827-era drawings of the “Comical Tragedy or Tragical Comedy of Mr. Punch"--complete with Piccini Punch. This one shows Mr. Punch and Scaramouche.

In the early Nineteenth Century version of the puppet show, Mr. Scaramouche was Mr. Punch’s neighbor and the original owner of Dog Toby. Punch encounters Dog Toby who bites his “beautiful nose,” and, then, Scaramouche confronts Punch about harassing his terrier. Punch confused Scaramouche by dancing with him, and, then beating him with his cudgel—eventually, taking Dog Toby as his own companion. This video begins just after Punch has had his first meeting with Dog Toby.  

Friday Fun: A Never-Before-Seen Performance by Bryan Clarke

Bryan Clarke

Made available just this week by Australian Professor, Christ van der Craats, this never-before-seen video from three years ago shows a masterful performance by the quintessential Punch & Judy Man, Bryan Clarke. Mr. Clarke made my Punch for me, and I have a deep personal fondness for his work and the man himself.


Enjoy!

Friday Fun: Punch and the Beadle

The Beadle
as envisioned by Chris van der Craats

Well, as much as I love him, I must admit that Mr. Punch is a rather naughty fellow. For all of his cuteness and charm, he does occasionally do some things that just aren’t “the way to do it.” So, it’s inevitable that his actions should attract the attention of the law. In traditional Punch & Judy shows, Punch is confronted by a variety of representatives of the law. He usually meets a constable or beadle, a judge, and even the hangman. Still, we know that the wooden-headed hero can “beat the Devil,” so something as simple as escaping the law shouldn’t be too difficult for him.

Let’s watch this snippet from a Punch & Judy show as performed by Australian Punch Judy Man, “Professor Whatsit,” also known as Chris van der Craats. I have a particular fondness for van der Craats’ puppets. He makes them himself and they are some of the best out there. These puppets have the look and charm of the figures used in the earliest Punch performances. You can buy Professor Whatsit’s hand-made puppets on his Web site.

Friday Fun: Punch and the Blind Man

In this continued series based on the 1827 drawings by George Cruikshank which recorded Piccini’s Punch, we see this scene of Punch and the Blind Man. The video comes to us from Australia’s Chris van der Craats.  

Friday Fun: Punch and the Devil

Punch Professor Lachlan Haig performed this exciting Punch and Judy Show in 2006 with puppets designed and made by Australia’s Professor Whatsit (aka Chris van der Craats) who also shot the video. 

Enjoy Punch’s ongoing battle with the Devil.

Friday Fun: Mr. Punch and Pretty Polly

1859 Proofs for prints of George Cruikshank's Punch & Judy Series of 1827
This pair of images shows courtly dances including the dance with Pretty Polly
as performed by Piccini.
Images from the Victoria & Albert Museum.

Another scene from a recent Punchinello show which replicates the 1827 drawings of Mr. Punch by George Cruikshank, here we see Mr. Punch courting Pretty Polly with a dance. I wish I knew who the professor was here. He’s used “The Beggar’s Opera” by John Gay as the dance music.

The video, again is by Chris van der Craats.

Friday Fun: Piccini's Punch with Hector the Horse

Mr. Punch and Hector the Horse
George Cruikshank, 1827
The Victoria & Albert Museum

The previous two Fridays, we have looked at a recent production which successfully recreated the Tragical Comedy (or Comical Tragedy) of Mr. Punch as performed by Piccini and as recorded in the 1827 illustrations of George Cruikshank.

This video by Australia's Chris van der Craats, shows the portion of the show wherein our Mr. punch attempts to ride Hector the Horse. His attempts don't go well and, of course, he falls off--declaring for all the world, and the doctor, to hear that he is dead.

Friday Fun: Mr. Punch and Scaramouche

Mr. Punch and Scaramouche
George Cruikshank, 1827
From the George Speaight Punch and Judy Archive
at The Victoria and Albert Museum

Last Friday, we enjoyed a video by Australian Punch and Judy Man, Chris van der Craats which showed us a recent recreation of some of George Cruikshank’s 1827-era drawings of the “Comical Tragedy or Tragical Comedy of Mr. Punch.” Here’s another recreation—complete with Piccini Punch. This one shows Mr. Punch and Scaramouche.

In the early Nineteenth Century version of the puppet show, Mr. Scaramouche was Mr. Punch’s neighbor and the original owner of Dog Toby. Punch encounters Dog Toby who bites his “beautiful nose,” and, then, Scaramouche confronts Punch about harassing his terrier. Punch confused Scaramouche by dancing with him, and, then beating him with his cudgel—eventually, taking Dog Toby as his own companion. This video begins just after Punch has had his first meeting with Dog Toby.  

Friday Fun: Mr. Punch and the Devil

Drawings by George Cruikshank, 1828

This video clip from 2012’s May Fayre and Mr. Punch’s 350th birthday was filmed by Australia’s Chris van der Craats. I’m not sure who the professor is, but he has given us a wonderful recreation of one of George Cruikshank’s famous 1820s illustrations of Mr. Punch. In this scene, Punch is defeating the Devil. That’s the way to do it!