I doubt I could have engineered a situation where the Italian side of our family struck up a conversation with a puppeteer at the summit of the Heights of Abraham, or that it would lead to a story about Punch and Judy.
But it happened, last week, during a brief holiday break in Derbyshire.
We had reached the summit, and Tina was talking to her dad, mum and sister, as they were passing the half-completed Punch and Judy stall of Mr. Richard Coombs.*
And because they were talking Italian that drew Richard’s interest, who was also born in Naples, and a conversation ensured.
Later, after the rest of the family had opted to discover the caverns, which I chose to pass on, I got talking again to Richard, who was preparing the stall for his annual Punch and Judy show which runs from July 20th to September 1st.**
"The Punch and Judy show has roots in the 16th-century Italian commedia dell'arte.
The figure of Punch is derived from the Neapolitan stock character of Pulcinella, which was anglicized to Punchinello.
He is a manifestation of the Lord of Misrule and Trickster figures of deep-rooted myths. Punch's wife was originally called "Joan."*
At which point I could of course stretch the connection and add that Simone was singing a Neapolitan love song as we passed the stall, but that would be fibbing.
On the other hand, the brightly dressed figures of Mr. and Mrs. Punch reminded me of the souvenirs on sale in that street of souvenirs in Naples which has everything from nativity characters and effigies of Berlusconi, to life size masked mannequins and bunches of red chilies which are a Neapolitan sign of good luck.
It is a remarkable place which buzzes with life and manages to be both tacky, and artistic, but above all is just fun, which neatly brings me back to Punch and Judy.
And like you do I swapped email addresses with Richard, but alas we used the 21st century equivalent of the business card, choosing to text our details, and here Mr. Punch’s mischievous character intervened, and the text never arrived.
That said I persevered and found Mr. Coombes, allowing the show to go on.
Location; the Heights of Abraham
Pictures; Mr. Punch and Judy at the Heights of Abraham, 2019 and Naples, 2018, from the collection of Andrew Simpson
*Punch and Judy, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punch_and_Judy
**Punch and Judy at the Heights of Abraham, https://www.heightsofabraham.com/see-and-do/whats-on/punch-judy/
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| The house of Mr. Punch, 2019 |
We had reached the summit, and Tina was talking to her dad, mum and sister, as they were passing the half-completed Punch and Judy stall of Mr. Richard Coombs.*
And because they were talking Italian that drew Richard’s interest, who was also born in Naples, and a conversation ensured.
Later, after the rest of the family had opted to discover the caverns, which I chose to pass on, I got talking again to Richard, who was preparing the stall for his annual Punch and Judy show which runs from July 20th to September 1st.**
"The Punch and Judy show has roots in the 16th-century Italian commedia dell'arte.
The figure of Punch is derived from the Neapolitan stock character of Pulcinella, which was anglicized to Punchinello.
 |
| Naples; 2018 |
On the other hand, the brightly dressed figures of Mr. and Mrs. Punch reminded me of the souvenirs on sale in that street of souvenirs in Naples which has everything from nativity characters and effigies of Berlusconi, to life size masked mannequins and bunches of red chilies which are a Neapolitan sign of good luck.
It is a remarkable place which buzzes with life and manages to be both tacky, and artistic, but above all is just fun, which neatly brings me back to Punch and Judy.
And like you do I swapped email addresses with Richard, but alas we used the 21st century equivalent of the business card, choosing to text our details, and here Mr. Punch’s mischievous character intervened, and the text never arrived.
That said I persevered and found Mr. Coombes, allowing the show to go on.
 |
| Mr. Coombs at work, 2019 |
Pictures; Mr. Punch and Judy at the Heights of Abraham, 2019 and Naples, 2018, from the collection of Andrew Simpson
*Punch and Judy, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punch_and_Judy
**Punch and Judy at the Heights of Abraham, https://www.heightsofabraham.com/see-and-do/whats-on/punch-judy/
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