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[[File:sausages_8080.gif|frame|I did NOT see that coming!]]
[[File:sausages_8080.gif|frame|I did NOT see that coming!]]


{{quote| ''That's the way to do it!'' -- Mr. Punch}}
{{quote|''That's the way to do it!''|Mr. Punch}}


''Punch and Judy'' is a traditional puppet show, most familiar to British children as a seaside attraction. It is generally played by a single puppetmaster called a 'Professor', with two characters on the stage at any one time. These include Mr. Punch, a hunchbacked jester with a squawking voice and a big stick; his long-suffering wife, Judy; their baby; an unnamed ghost; Joey the clown; the policeman, and a sausage-loving crocodile.
''[[Punch and Judy]]'' is a traditional puppet show, most familiar to British children as a seaside attraction. It is generally played by a single puppetmaster called a 'Professor', with two characters on the stage at any one time. These include Mr. Punch, a hunchbacked jester with a squawking voice and a big stick; his long-suffering wife, Judy; their baby; an unnamed ghost; Joey the clown; the policeman, and a sausage-loving crocodile.


As its history can be traced back to the 16th century, it makes all of the show's tropes [[Older Than Steam]] at least.
As its history can be traced back to the 16th century, it makes all of the show's tropes [[Older Than Steam]] at least.


----
=== ''Punch And Judy'' provides examples of: ===


{{tropelist}}
* [[Audience Participation]]: The children are expected to reply to Mr. Punch's [[Catch Phrase]], "That's the way to do it" with a shout of "[[Pantomime|Oh no, it isn't!]]"
* [[Audience Participation]]: The children are expected to reply to Mr. Punch's [[Catch Phrase]], "That's the way to do it" with a shout of "[[Pantomime|Oh no, it isn't!]]"
* [[Catch Phrase]]:
* [[Catch Phrase]]:
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* [[Refuge in Audacity]]: The entire show, especially the violence, is played as outrageous comedy.
* [[Refuge in Audacity]]: The entire show, especially the violence, is played as outrageous comedy.
* [[Slapstick]]: The style of the show, even named after the type of stick Punch uses.
* [[Slapstick]]: The style of the show, even named after the type of stick Punch uses.
* [[Throw the Dog A Bone]]: In some shows Judy will get her hands on his stick and beat him with it. Though this is usually followed by [[Yank the Dog's Chain|Punch snatching it back]] and [[Kick the Dog|beating her with it]].
* [[Throw the Dog a Bone]]: In some shows Judy will get her hands on his stick and beat him with it. Though this is usually followed by [[Yank the Dog's Chain|Punch snatching it back]] and [[Kick the Dog|beating her with it]].
* [[Villain Protagonist]]: Guess who?
* [[Villain Protagonist]]: Guess who?


----
----
=== ''Punch And Judy'' is referenced in: ===
{{examples|''Punch And Judy'' is referenced in:}}
== Anime and Manga ==
* ''[[Cowboy Bebop]]'' has two minor characters called Punch and Judy. It's mostly a case of [[Shout-Out Theme Naming]], but in their final appearance together, Judy breaks the character she's been showing and inverts the usual dynamic between the two puppet-show characters.


== Comic Books ==
* Famously Mr Punch gave his name to ''[[Punch]]'' magazine, supposedly being its editor.
* ''[[V for Vendetta]]'' (as one of the most creepy/horrible things the main character does [although he deserved it])
* ''[[V for Vendetta]]'' (as one of the most creepy/horrible things the main character does [although he deserved it])
* [[The DCU]] villains Punch and Jewelee in ''[[Captain Atom]]'' and ''[[Suicide Squad]]'' dress like Punch and Judy.
* ''[[Girl Genius]]''

== Film ==
* In the opening of ''[[A Muppet Christmas Carol]]'', Scrooge passes by a Punch and Judy show. One of the lines in his theme is sung by the crocodile puppet before Mr. Punch hits him with his stick.
* In the opening of ''[[A Muppet Christmas Carol]]'', Scrooge passes by a Punch and Judy show. One of the lines in his theme is sung by the crocodile puppet before Mr. Punch hits him with his stick.
* Kermit and Piggy watch a Punch and Judy show in a sketch of ''[[The Muppet Show]]'' and comment on the violence.
* A scene from ''[[The Muppet Show]]'' in which Kermit and Miss Piggy watch a Punch and Judy show is featured in ''[[An American Werewolf in London]]''. Kermit's defense of the show's violence is immediately followed by two incredibly brutal scenes of violence.
* Tony Hancock co-wrote and appeared in a film called ''The Punch and Judy Man'' which features a Punch and Judy performer whose troubled relationship with his wife reflects the relationship between Punch and Judy.
* A scene from ''[[The Muppet Show]]'' in which Kermit and Miss Piggy watch a Punch and Judy show is featured in ''[[An American Werewolf in London]]''. Kermit's defense of the show's violence is immediately followed by two incredibly brutal scenes of violence.
* [[The Santa Clause (film series)|The Santa Clause]]: What's unusual here is that [[Playing Against Type|they don't beat each other up]]; instead, they just talk to each other and play nice. They are also most likely [[Living Toys]], as they seem to be busy before Scott Calvin enters the room, and react to him [[I See London|dropping his pants]].
* [[The Marx Brothers|Harpo Marx]] manages to get himself ''in'' a Punch and Judy show in ''Monkey Business.''

== Literature ==
* Famously Mr Punch gave his name to ''[[Punch]]'' magazine, supposedly being its editor.
* [[Jasper Fforde]]'s novel ''The Fourth Bear'', in which they are supporting characters.
* [[Jasper Fforde]]'s novel ''The Fourth Bear'', in which they are supporting characters.
* ''[[Riddley Walker]]'', where it forms the main cultural legacy (along with the legend of St. Eustace) of our world and plays a huge part in the symbolism of the plot.
* ''[[Riddley Walker]]'', where it forms the main cultural legacy (along with the legend of St. Eustace) of our world and plays a huge part in the symbolism of the plot.
* [[Neil Gaiman]]'s short memoir-graphic novel with [[Dave McKean]], ''The Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy of Mr Punch''.
* [[Neil Gaiman]]'s short memoir-graphic novel with [[Dave McKean]], ''The Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy of Mr Punch''.
* [[Discworld (Literature)|Discworld]]:
* ''[[Discworld]]'':
** The short story "Theatre of Cruelty" features a Punch-and-Judy show, only {{spoiler|with enslaved gnomes instead of puppets. That's ''not'' the way to do it.}}
** The short story "Theatre of Cruelty" features a Punch-and-Judy show, only {{spoiler|with enslaved gnomes instead of puppets. That's ''not'' the way to do it.}}
** In ''[[Discworld (Literature)/Monstrous Regiment|Monstrous Regiment]]'', [[Sweet Polly Oliver|Polly]] mentions having seen one or two of these in town.
** In ''[[Monstrous Regiment]]'', [[Sweet Polly Oliver|Polly]] mentions having seen one or two of these in town.
** ''[[Discworld (Literature)/Wyrd Sisters|Wyrd Sisters]]'' has a scene where the playwright Hwel, after being hit by two inspirations simultaneously, attempts to write what is effectively ''[[Richard III]]'' as a Punch-and-Judy show.
** ''[[Wyrd Sisters]]'' has a scene where the playwright Hwel, after being hit by two inspirations simultaneously, attempts to write what is effectively ''[[Richard III]]'' as a Punch-and-Judy show.
** ''[[Discworld (Literature)/Maskerade|Maskerade]]'', discussing Granny Weatherwax's hatred of theatre, and resulting fascination with it, says that even the Punch-and-Judy men have stopped coming to Lancre out of terror of her glaring at them from the front row.
** ''[[Maskerade]]'', discussing Granny Weatherwax's hatred of theatre, and resulting fascination with it, says that even the Punch-and-Judy men have stopped coming to Lancre out of terror of her glaring at them from the front row.
* ''[[Chrestomanci|The Magicians of Caprona]]'' by [[Diana Wynne Jones]]
* ''[[Chrestomanci|The Magicians of Caprona]]'' by [[Diana Wynne Jones]]
* ''[[The Anubis Gates]]'' by [[Tim Powers]]
* ''[[The Anubis Gates]]'' by [[Tim Powers]]
* Appears in the novel ''[[Rivers of London]]'' where the entire book {{spoiler|is just one huge [[Whole-Plot Reference]] in disguise and Mister Punch is the [[Anthropomorphic Personification]] of Riot and Rebellion}}.
* [[Game of Nerds|It's also a baseball slang for a singles hitter.]]
* Figures prominently in the M.R. James ghost story "A Disappearance and an Appearance", as part of a nightmarish [[Dreaming of Things to Come|foreshadowing dream.]]
* ''[[Something Positive]]''

== Live-Action TV ==
* Kermit and Piggy watch a Punch and Judy show in a sketch of ''[[The Muppet Show]]'' and comment on the violence.
* Ian Hislop unexpectedly did a short impromptu imitation in an episode of ''[[Have I Got News for You]]''.
* Ian Hislop unexpectedly did a short impromptu imitation in an episode of ''[[Have I Got News for You]]''.
* ''[[Hi-de-Hi!]]'' features Mr Partridge, the perpetually drunk, child-hating Punch And Judy man.
* Tony Hancock co-wrote and appeared in a film called ''The Punch and Judy Man'' which features a Punch and Judy performer whose troubled relationship with his wife reflects the relationship between Punch and Judy.
* In ''[[Jeeves and Wooster (TV series)|Jeeves and Wooster]]'', Bertie's looking to kill some time, and watches a show. Of course, [[The Ditz|Bertie]] is engrossed by what, in his opinion, may be the absolute last word in entertainment.
* [[Real Life]] - if you've ever used the phrase "Pleased as Punch," it refers to Punch's habit of applauding when he has just committed some particularly violent deed.
* ''[[Are You Being Served?]]'': There's an episode called "The Punch and Judy Affair" where they play life-size versions of the characters.
* [[Hi De Hi]] features Mr Partridge, the perpetually drunk, child-hating Punch And Judy man.
* Cole Hawlings in ''[[The Box of Delights]]'' owns a Punch and Judy show, though this is something of a cover story.
* The video game ''Dragon Quest VIII'' has a roaming monster named "Punchin' Judy" that fights the party with hand puppets.

* Harrison Birtwistle's opera ''Punch and Judy'' is a very violent take on the dysfunctional family. Benjamin Britten walked out of it during the premiere.
== Music ==
* A Punch and Judy set-up is seen in ''[[Wallace and Gromit|Wallace and Gromit's Grand Adventure]]: The Last Resort''.
* [[Coldplay]]'s video for "Life In Technicolor II"
* [[Coldplay]]'s video for "Life In Technicolor II"
* "Yoga" by [[The Mountain Goats]]
* "Yoga" by [[The Mountain Goats]]
* In ''[[Jeeves and Wooster (TV)|Jeeves and Wooster]]'', Bertie's looking to kill some time, and watches a show. Of course, [[The Ditz|Bertie]] is engrossed by what, in his opinion, may be the absolute last word in entertainment.
* Joker in ''[[The Batman (Animation)|The Batman]]'' has a pair of clownlike brutes named this, which sets up the following joke: "By the way, have you met my associates Judy and ... ''Punch?''" [["Hey You!" Haymaker|*POW*]]
* [[The Santa Clause]]: What's unusual here is that [[Playing Against Type|they don't beat each other up]]; instead, they just talk to each other and play nice. They are also most likely [[Living Toys]], as they seem to be busy before Scott Calvin enters the room, and react to him [[I See London|dropping his pants]].
* [[The Tiger Lillies]] have an album called ''Punch and Judy''.
* [[The Tiger Lillies]] have an album called ''Punch and Judy''.
* Appears in the novel ''[[Rivers of London]]'' where the entire book {{spoiler|is just one huge [[Whole-Plot Reference]] in disguise and Mister Punch is the [[Anthropomorphic Personification]] of Riot and Rebellion}}.
* ''[[Are You Being Served? (TV)|Are You Being Served]]'': There's an episode called "The Punch and Judy Affair" where they play life-size versions of the characters.
* Marillion have a song called ''Punch & Judy''.
* Marillion have a song called ''Punch & Judy''.

* In ''[[101 Dalmatians (Disney)|102 Dalmatians]]'', Chloe and her dogs meet up with Kevin, his dogs, and Waddlesworth the parrot to see one of these shows. Hilarity and disaster ensues when spotless Oddball sees the dog puppet wearing a spotted sweater and tries to get it, and then eventually getting tied up in a bunch of balloons floating while at it. {{spoiler|After being rescued, the puppeteer gives her the sweater}}
== Theatre ==
* Figures prominently in the M.R. James ghost story "A Disappearance and an Appearance", as part of a nightmarish [[Dreaming of Things to Come|foreshadowing dream.]]
* Harrison Birtwistle's opera ''Punch and Judy'' is a very violent take on the dysfunctional family. Benjamin Britten walked out of it during the premiere.
* [[The Marx Brothers|Harpo Marx]] manages to get himself ''in'' a Punch and Judy show in ''Monkey Business.''

* [[Rocko's Modern Life]] features a show-within-a-show called "Meet the Fatheads", which is pretty much Punch & Judy with 1990's gross-out humor applied--the husband and wife appear to be made of snot (or maybe just fat?) and spend most of the episodes belaboring one another about said heads with parking meters and having absurd arguments.
== Video Games ==
* [[The DCU]] villains Punch and Jewelee in ''[[Captain Atom]]'' and ''[[Suicide Squad]]'' dress like Punch and Judy.
* The video game ''[[Dragon Quest VIII]]'' has a roaming monster named "Punchin' Judy" that fights the party with hand puppets.
* Cole Hawlings in [[The Box of Delights]] owns a Punch & Judy show, though this is something of a cover story.

== Web Comics ==
* ''[[Girl Genius]]'': the real names of {{spoiler|Agatha's guardians at the beginning of the story}} are "Punch" and "Judy".
* ''[[Something*Positive]]''{{context}}

== Western Animation ==
* A Punch and Judy set-up is seen in ''[[Wallace and Gromit|Wallace and Gromit's Grand Adventure]]: The Last Resort''.
* Joker in ''[[The Batman]]'' has a pair of clownlike brutes named this, which sets up the following joke: "By the way, have you met my associates Judy and ... ''Punch?''" [["Hey You!" Haymaker|*POW*]]
* In ''[[101 Dalmatians|102 Dalmatians]]'', Chloe and her dogs meet up with Kevin, his dogs, and Waddlesworth the parrot to see one of these shows. Hilarity and disaster ensues when spotless Oddball sees the dog puppet wearing a spotted sweater and tries to get it, and then eventually getting tied up in a bunch of balloons floating while at it. {{spoiler|After being rescued, the puppeteer gives her the sweater}}
* ''[[Rocko's Modern Life]]'' features a show-within-a-show called "Meet the Fatheads", which is pretty much Punch and Judy with 1990s gross-out humor applied--the husband and wife appear to be made of snot (or maybe just fat?) and spend most of the episodes belaboring one another about said heads with parking meters and having absurd arguments.


== Real Life ==
* if you've ever used the phrase "Pleased as Punch," it refers to Punch's habit of applauding when he has just committed some particularly violent deed.

=== Sports ===
* [[Game of Nerds|It's also a baseball slang for a singles hitter.]]



{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Theatrical Productions]]
[[Category:Theatrical Productions]]
[[Category:Puppet Shows]]
[[Category:Puppet Shows]]
[[Category:Punch and Judy]]
[[Category:Classic Puppet Shows]]
[[Category:Theatre]]

Latest revision as of 00:47, 17 December 2022

I did NOT see that coming!
That's the way to do it!
—Mr. Punch

Punch and Judy is a traditional puppet show, most familiar to British children as a seaside attraction. It is generally played by a single puppetmaster called a 'Professor', with two characters on the stage at any one time. These include Mr. Punch, a hunchbacked jester with a squawking voice and a big stick; his long-suffering wife, Judy; their baby; an unnamed ghost; Joey the clown; the policeman, and a sausage-loving crocodile.

As its history can be traced back to the 16th century, it makes all of the show's tropes Older Than Steam at least.


Tropes used in Punch and Judy include:

Punch And Judy is referenced in:

Anime and Manga

  • Cowboy Bebop has two minor characters called Punch and Judy. It's mostly a case of Shout-Out Theme Naming, but in their final appearance together, Judy breaks the character she's been showing and inverts the usual dynamic between the two puppet-show characters.

Comic Books

Film

  • In the opening of A Muppet Christmas Carol, Scrooge passes by a Punch and Judy show. One of the lines in his theme is sung by the crocodile puppet before Mr. Punch hits him with his stick.
  • A scene from The Muppet Show in which Kermit and Miss Piggy watch a Punch and Judy show is featured in An American Werewolf in London. Kermit's defense of the show's violence is immediately followed by two incredibly brutal scenes of violence.
  • Tony Hancock co-wrote and appeared in a film called The Punch and Judy Man which features a Punch and Judy performer whose troubled relationship with his wife reflects the relationship between Punch and Judy.
  • The Santa Clause: What's unusual here is that they don't beat each other up; instead, they just talk to each other and play nice. They are also most likely Living Toys, as they seem to be busy before Scott Calvin enters the room, and react to him dropping his pants.
  • Harpo Marx manages to get himself in a Punch and Judy show in Monkey Business.

Literature

  • Famously Mr Punch gave his name to Punch magazine, supposedly being its editor.
  • Jasper Fforde's novel The Fourth Bear, in which they are supporting characters.
  • Riddley Walker, where it forms the main cultural legacy (along with the legend of St. Eustace) of our world and plays a huge part in the symbolism of the plot.
  • Neil Gaiman's short memoir-graphic novel with Dave McKean, The Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy of Mr Punch.
  • Discworld:
    • The short story "Theatre of Cruelty" features a Punch-and-Judy show, only with enslaved gnomes instead of puppets. That's not the way to do it.
    • In Monstrous Regiment, Polly mentions having seen one or two of these in town.
    • Wyrd Sisters has a scene where the playwright Hwel, after being hit by two inspirations simultaneously, attempts to write what is effectively Richard III as a Punch-and-Judy show.
    • Maskerade, discussing Granny Weatherwax's hatred of theatre, and resulting fascination with it, says that even the Punch-and-Judy men have stopped coming to Lancre out of terror of her glaring at them from the front row.
  • The Magicians of Caprona by Diana Wynne Jones
  • The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers
  • Appears in the novel Rivers of London where the entire book is just one huge Whole-Plot Reference in disguise and Mister Punch is the Anthropomorphic Personification of Riot and Rebellion.
  • Figures prominently in the M.R. James ghost story "A Disappearance and an Appearance", as part of a nightmarish foreshadowing dream.

Live-Action TV

  • Kermit and Piggy watch a Punch and Judy show in a sketch of The Muppet Show and comment on the violence.
  • Ian Hislop unexpectedly did a short impromptu imitation in an episode of Have I Got News for You.
  • Hi-de-Hi! features Mr Partridge, the perpetually drunk, child-hating Punch And Judy man.
  • In Jeeves and Wooster, Bertie's looking to kill some time, and watches a show. Of course, Bertie is engrossed by what, in his opinion, may be the absolute last word in entertainment.
  • Are You Being Served?: There's an episode called "The Punch and Judy Affair" where they play life-size versions of the characters.
  • Cole Hawlings in The Box of Delights owns a Punch and Judy show, though this is something of a cover story.

Music

Theatre

  • Harrison Birtwistle's opera Punch and Judy is a very violent take on the dysfunctional family. Benjamin Britten walked out of it during the premiere.

Video Games

  • The video game Dragon Quest VIII has a roaming monster named "Punchin' Judy" that fights the party with hand puppets.

Web Comics

Western Animation

  • A Punch and Judy set-up is seen in Wallace and Gromit's Grand Adventure: The Last Resort.
  • Joker in The Batman has a pair of clownlike brutes named this, which sets up the following joke: "By the way, have you met my associates Judy and ... Punch?" *POW*
  • In 102 Dalmatians, Chloe and her dogs meet up with Kevin, his dogs, and Waddlesworth the parrot to see one of these shows. Hilarity and disaster ensues when spotless Oddball sees the dog puppet wearing a spotted sweater and tries to get it, and then eventually getting tied up in a bunch of balloons floating while at it. After being rescued, the puppeteer gives her the sweater
  • Rocko's Modern Life features a show-within-a-show called "Meet the Fatheads", which is pretty much Punch and Judy with 1990s gross-out humor applied--the husband and wife appear to be made of snot (or maybe just fat?) and spend most of the episodes belaboring one another about said heads with parking meters and having absurd arguments.


Real Life

  • if you've ever used the phrase "Pleased as Punch," it refers to Punch's habit of applauding when he has just committed some particularly violent deed.

Sports