Punch and Judy
by Adaptation by Aurand Harris

The ageless puppet play brought to life -- but fire-works!

Unit set, with changing props.

Traditional Punch and Judy costumes.

Cast of 12 characters, usually played by 6 actors.

Punch and Judy, pining behind the tiny stage of their "Closed" puppet theatre, are suddenly made aware of a live audience out front by their winsome little dog Toby.

They cannot resist the call to perform.

Bursting from behind the puppet stage, they expand into live actors.

Merry as a cricket, Punch goes his joyful way through all the familiar plot routines, singing, high-stepping, slap-sticking at all the forces that would mold him into Society's form, cheerfully determined to be his own man, to be free - - and comes out the winner.

Might makes right, you see.

But they are old puppets.

In the end, they return to the puppet stage, singing "There'll always be a Punch and Judy," fading into their puppet selves behind the tiny faded curtain.