File puptcrit/puptcrit.0609, message 316


To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
Date: Tue, 26 Sep 2006 01:00:09 -0400
From: biersblackwood-AT-aol.com
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Where's Pretty Polly


Surprised to hear that the crocodile is thought to have "faded out."  
I've seen it, or evidence of in, in Punch & Judy style shows performed 
now in the UK, Australia, the US, and France.   It's such an effective 
puppet character, especially when it snaps its jaws.

A stereotyped character called Jim Crow-- really a representation of a 
minstrel show character which entertainer Dan Rice performed live on 
stage in the early 19th century-- has indeed fallen almost entirely by 
the wayside, though the puppet version is still brought out in shows in 
the UK on rare occasions.  Black characters survive in Punch & Judy 
shows today, but neither the characters nor the features of the puppets 
would be deliberately stereotyped in any mainstream show I can imagine.

Fred Greenspan has an African American wizard named Shallaballa in some 
of his shows, and he also uses Pretty Polly, the fair damsel who 
catches Mr Punch's eye.  Except for those attempting to re-create 
something of the Piccini/Collier/Cruikshank P&J experience, most Punch 
professors dropped Polly years ago.  In Scotland at one time though, as 
George Speaight related, the show was known as "Punch & Polly."

Sean K.
www.punchandjudy.com

-----Original Message-----
From: roarkcd-AT-yahoo.com
To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
Sent: Mon, 25 Sep 2006 20:56:43 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [Puptcrit] Where's Pretty Polly

   Here's a quick question for all of the P&J Professors
out there:

In his wonderful graphic novel _The Comical Tragedy or
Tragical Comedy of Mr. Punch-, Neil Gaiman suggests
that Punch's mistress, Pretty Polly, is no longer a
part of the show (he mentions a Jim Crow character and
a crocodile that also faded out).

Yet, Pretty Polly is very much on Punch's mind in the
script published by Player's Press (which is readily
available).

Do any of you still use Polly as a part of your show?

Much Obliged (atsawaytadoit!!)

Carolyn


"Courage in Women is often mistaken for insanity."

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
_______________________________________________
List address: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
Admin interface: 
http://lists.driftline.org/listinfo.cgi/puptcrit-driftline.org
Archives: http://www.driftline.org


________________________________________________________________________
Check out the new AOL.  Most comprehensive set of free safety and 
security tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from 
across the web, free AOL Mail and more.

_______________________________________________
List address: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
Admin interface: http://lists.driftline.org/listinfo.cgi/puptcrit-driftline.org
Archives: http://www.driftline.org

   

Driftline Main Page

 

Display software: ArchTracker © Malgosia Askanas, 2000-2005