British Literature Class Performs the Punch and Judy Show
by Brooks William and Louisa Tanner, OHS Torch Reporters
May 19, 2008
The British Literature class created and presented puppet shows for class last week. The students made up their own Punch and Judy show, which is a traditional and popular form of British puppet show. The shows are a bunch of short sketches, featuring Punch, the main character, and usually one other puppet, like his wife Judy, the policeman, the hangman or the Devil.
Punch is always dressed as a Jester and carries a large stick that he uses to hit other characters. Punch and Judy shows are very funny, but do contain some humorous violence, rather like the Coyote and Roadrunner cartoons. The show has Punch behaving outrageously, struggling with his wife Judy and the Baby, getting into trouble with the law, and then triumphing, in a series of encounters, over the forces of law.
Punch’s most famous saying is “That’s the way to do it.” He says this every time he triumphs over someone.
After learning about the history and format of Punch and Judy shows, the students formed teams and wrote their own scripts, using the basic format of a Punch and Judy, but also using their own creativity. One of the main parts of a Punch and Judy show is audience interaction—so students had to write into their scripts some way to include the audience participation. Brit Lit student Aaron Frazier enjoyed the variety of plots and endings in the scripts. He also said that the variety and odd original characters that students created for the shows was also really cool.
Students also had to make their own puppets as well. The shows were performed live in class, using a real puppet theatre.
Brit Lit teacher Mrs. Hapgood said, “This was a different, yet creative way of learning about traditional British literature. It is a solid piece of Victorian history, so it suits the class well, yet it is also really fun and funny! The students did a super job creating their puppets and writing their scripts. Overall, I think it was a neat way for students to really interact with the literature.”
So folks, That’s the way to do it!
Hear a pod cast of this story and some clips of the British Literature students original Punch and Judy shows here.
