Stock Photo Description: Mr. Punch's earliest roots date back to the wandering Commedia dell' Arte troupes of 14th century Italy. Pulcinella, a hook-nosed, cowardly buffoon, was a popular character in the comic plays of these actors. During succeeding centuries, Commedia plays spread to France and then England. There the Pulcinella character merged with British glove puppet traditions to become Punchinello, or Mr. Punch. Punch acquired a wife (originally known as Joan), and by the end of the late 17th century, the Punch and Judy show was firmly ensconced in the annals of tradition. By the mid-1800's, the Punch and Judy Show had entered its Golden Age. Nomadic Punchmen performed at country fairs, seaside resorts, family parlors and the streets of London. Audiences included poor people of the streets, as well as the rich and fashionable upper crust. Tastes and times change, but the Punch tradition has survived through many centuries. Today the Punch and Judy Show is experiencing a revival in Britain and the United States. The show has never been more colorful or beautifully performed.
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