Chapter IV: A Doorway Punch and Judy Show

EVERYBODY laughs when he sees Mr. Punch, with his funny long nose, and his wife Judy in her frilled cap. The show is all fun, every bit of it; even the little baby seems to understand and appears actually pleased when Punch and Judy toss him back and forth, as they might a rubber ball. When the infant happens to fall, he is never hurt; the accident is but a good joke and part of the sport. One great charm about the show is, that you can make Punch and his family do exactly as you please and say exactly what you want them to say, for so long as you are showman they yield implicit obedience to your will.

The only material necessary for

=The Stage=

will be a piece of plain solid-colored cloth, which must reach across an open doorway, be tacked upon each side and extend down to the floor, where it should be again fastened that there may be no danger of its blowing aside. Put this curtain up high enough in the doorway to reach a trifle above your head, for you must be completely hidden from the audience. The full-page illustration shows the back of the stage and gives the manner in which Punch and his family are made to move about in the opening between the top of the doorway and the curtain. It is this opening which constitutes the stage. The illustration also shows a band of cloth stretched across the extreme top of the doorway, and short side curtains added to the outside of the stage to improve its appearance.

=To Make Punch’s Head,=

cut a piece of unruled white writing-paper eight inches long and five inches wide, to allow a generous margin, and on it draw Fig. 42, making the head 6 inches across one way and 4 inches the other. Paste a strip of thin cloth over the neck which includes the entire space between the four corners marked A-A-A-A, and over this cloth paste two more cloth strips in the spaces marked B-B and B-B. The cloth strengthens the neck and prevents it from tearing while the head is in motion. Carefully mark the features, copying them also on the right-hand side of the face (D). Cut out the head, including flaps, and the ears along their outer edge. Cut the line of the chin into each side of the neck as far as the second strips of cloth (B-B and B-B). Roll the neck until it fits loosely on your first finger, then paste it together like a ring. Paste the tips of each side of the nose together, also those of the chin.

Bend the flaps at the dotted line on the edge of the face and paste the other side of the face part way over the flaps, covering the spaces C-C-C-C. If the head seems too narrow, bend the paper out to make it appear wider. Roll an extra piece of writing-paper and fit it inside the head. Be sure that the roll lies evenly and is close up against the inside of the head; then bend out the ears, paste the paper lining in place and paint the entire head pink except the eyes and teeth. When the first color is dry, paint the markings on the ears red; the hair and eyebrows, markings for teeth and the eyes black; the lips, nose, chin and cheeks a brilliant red.

The top of Punch’s head is open (Fig. 43), but we will cover it with a high, pointed cap, and the uncovered space where the chin comes forward beyond the neck will not be noticed when Punch is dressed, for the double ruffle around his neck hides all deficiencies. Make each arm of a roll of writing-paper pasted together along the edge. The roll must be about four and three-quarter inches long. Flatten and paste together one end of each arm, and on these flat ends draw the outline of a mitten, which will serve as a hand; when the paste is dry, cut out the mitten (Fig. 44). Paint the hands and arms pink.

The arms should fit loosely over the ends of your thumb and forefinger. Fig. 45 gives the pattern of

=Punch’s Dress=

Make it much larger, according to the dimensions given on patterns, and let it be of soft material in very bright, gay colors. The front and back are exactly alike, and the two pieces are sewed together at the sides, the seams extending to within two inches of the bottom of the skirt, leaving the sides split up that distance. Slide the paper arms up in the sleeves and fasten them in place at the top with a drop or two of glue. Make a wide, white double ruffle, slip it on Punch’s neck and push it up against the head. Then gather the top of the dress so that it will fit Punch’s neck, and fasten it on under the ruffle with strong glue, allowing the bottom of the paper neck to extend down below the gathered top of the dress. Make a high cap of brilliant red cloth to fit Punch’s head; trim it with a turned up band of vivid green edged with white and glue the cap to the head. With a stitch or two or an elastic band fasten an inked paper lighter in his right hand to serve as a stick.

Now slip the first finger of your left hand up in Punch’s neck, run your thumb and second finger of the same hand in the paper arms, and make Punch turn and twist his head while he gesticulates with both arms. You will laugh before you know it, and be delighted with your funny old Punch (Fig. 46).

=Make Judy’s Head=

by the pattern used for the head of Punch, but omit the ears and cut off the ends of both nose and chin. They should not be so long for Judy. Strengthen the neck with cloth and fasten the head together as you did that of Punch. Make blond hair of two pieces of yellow tissue paper pasted in narrow irregular folds on the inside of the top opening of the head; then bring over and down on the outside as if combed loosely over Judy’s ears. Paste the lower ends of the paper hair above the neck on the back of the head. Paint Judy’s eyes blue. In all other respects than the details mentioned, make Judy’s head the same as you did that of Punch. Make her arms and hands the same, the double ruffle for the neck the same, the dress the same cut but of contrasting color. Cut Judy’s cap from thin white material, make it circular and gather it entirely around, about one inch from the edge. Attach strings of the same material, and tie them under Judy’s chin (Fig. 47).

=The Baby=

must be quite light in weight. Make it of a piece of pink tissue paper about eight inches square. Draw the paper through your hands several times to crush it into small folds, then, while it is crushed together, double at the middle and wind a thread around near the folded end to form a neck, leaving half an inch above for the head. Gather a piece of white tissue paper around the baby’s neck to make its dress, and cut a straight strip of white tissue paper for the baby’s cap. Lay it flat on top of the head and bring the two ends down straight on each side of the face. Gather the cap at the back, add strings and fasten it on the baby’s head. Features may be marked on the face with paint, but be very careful not to use much water with the colors, for water will melt the tissue paper face.

=When All is Ready=

slip Judy on one hand, Punch on the other hand, and make them talk and act to the best of your ability. Assume deep tones of voice when you talk for Punch, and high, shrill tones for Judy; make the play short, full of life and action, and as funny as possible. Of course, you will have to practise with Punch, Judy and the baby in front of a mirror before giving your show in order to see how they will look as you make them act, and to learn just how to manage them.

=Drama of Punch and Judy=

PUNCH (_below_): Wait a minute, sha’n’t be long putting on
my new boots (_pops up singing_). Trala-la-la-la-la-la-la.
Hello, there! Watch me dance (_dances, singing a lively tune
to music; music stops and he leans down, calls below_).
JUDY! JUDY! JUDY, come here.

JUDY (_pops up_): Well, Mr. PUNCH; what do you want? I’m
dreadfully busy just now.

PUNCH: Oh! nothing, only want to know if you’d like a box of
French candy, the delicious kind that melts in your mouth;
but never mind, I can get it for you next Christmas (_Punch
turns his back and walks off_).

JUDY (_running after Punch_): Punchy-munchy, I wish I had it
now; do, Punchy, give it to me.

PUNCH (_turning_): You must give me a kiss first (_they hug
each other and have a merry time dancing and singing to
lively music_).

JUDY: Oh! Oh! I forgot the baby. I’ll go and get him
(_disappears_).

PUNCH (_calling after her_): Well, hurry up, and don’t
forget our dog Toby (_calls_). Toby! Old dog Toby—come
and jump over my stick (_bangs his stick about, striking
everything, accidentally strikes his nose_). Oh! Oh! Oh!
my poor nose, my best Sunday nose, my beautiful long nose
(_calls_). JUDY! J-U-D-Y, where’s the baby? (_Enter_ JUDY
_with baby_).

JUDY: Here, PUNCH; catch him (_tosses baby to_ PUNCH, _who
catches him; dances about, then tosses the baby back to_
JUDY, _who fails to catch him_).

JUDY: PUNCH! PUNCH! Where’s the baby?

PUNCH: Gone down-stairs. I’ll fetch him up (_disappears_).

JUDY: Just think! the little dear went down-stairs all alone!

(PUNCH _reappears_.)

PUNCH: Here’s the little darling; pity his nose is not
longer. Do you think it will grow, JUDY? (_baby cries_;
PUNCH _tosses him up in the air singing_). He didn’t dance,
dance, dance; he didn’t dance all day nor yesterday.

(JUDY _tries to catch the baby_.)

PUNCH: Take him! Now we will both sing while I keep time
with my stick. Begin, I say; quick, hurry, quick! (JUDY
_runs away with the baby while_ PUNCH _is talking and not
watching her; turning_, PUNCH _finds himself alone_).

PUNCH (_calls_): Baby! Baby! Come and see your daddy’s
beautiful nose (_baby is tossed up from below_). See! See!
my boy can fly through the air (_knocks with his stick, then
calls_). JUDY! Why don’t you come? (JUDY _appears with baby,
walks back and forth_).

JUDY: I must get this child to sleep.

PUNCH: Nonsense, I’ll amuse him (_grabs child and disappears
with him; baby heard crying, “Mama! I want my Mama!”_).

JUDY: Just listen to that (_waves her arms frantically
around and disappears_.)

PUNCH (_reappearing with a flag in each hand_): We haven’t
given you our flag dance. JUDY! girl, come along.

JUDY (_jumps up with a flag in each hand_): Hush, PUNCH,
you’ll wake the baby.

PUNCH: Now let’s dance. (_The music plays and the two
dance and sing some popular air, then together bow to the
audience, saying_:) Good-by little girls and boys, good-by,
everybody. We’ve had such a good time. Good-by, good-by.

The flags may be of home or store manufacture, but they must be fastened on paper sticks, made like Punch’s paper-lighter stick. They can all be American flags, or three other nations may be represented, or each flag can be of solid color, differing from all the others, as red, green, yellow and blue.

If a companion will help with the show by taking complete charge of Judy while you attend to Punch, the management will be much easier, for then you will have only one doll to make talk and act.