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Tony James Inner circle Cheshire UK 1398 Posts |
Ohhhhh! Are you referring to the Russian Scotsman who hails from Wales? Isn't there an Irish connection there somewhere?
Tony James
Still A Child At Heart |
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Tom Riddle Special user Chelsea, UK 507 Posts |
I believe the pedigree is, indeed, an unusual one. I am told it can be traced back to a Celtic/Viking wedding that took place at Avebury in the west county nearly 1800 years ago. The family stayed in various parts of Britain, mainly north of Hadrian's wall, for centuries. They did not move to Russia until just before the revolution. The Welsh blood to which you refer, Tony, is, I understand, from an illegitimate line of the family. So often the Svengali invention has been attributed to Burling Hull, but it has been in the RM family as a closely guarded secret almost since the invention of playing cards.
"Yes, Virginia, there really are people named Riddle...isn't that AMAZING! And to think of all the royalties I'm missing out on! SCANDALOUS!"
Thomas Williamson Riddle III Chelsea, UK |
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Tony James Inner circle Cheshire UK 1398 Posts |
How appropriate that there should be an illegitimate thread - all the best families have one here in the UK. And appropriate too that actors and actresses belong to the legitimate theatre whereas entertainers belong to the illegitimate side. Clearly, we know our place!
In law of course, entertainers are still classed and referred to as travelling rogues and vagabonds. People not to be trusted. With due cause, in some cases.
Tony James
Still A Child At Heart |
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Tom Riddle Special user Chelsea, UK 507 Posts |
"In law of course, entertainers are still classed and referred to as travelling rogues and vagabonds. People not to be trusted. With due cause, in some cases."
These days, Tony, I would say that in the minds of the general public, entertaining is one of the only professions that is classless. Another one would be vicars...men of the cloth!
"Yes, Virginia, there really are people named Riddle...isn't that AMAZING! And to think of all the royalties I'm missing out on! SCANDALOUS!"
Thomas Williamson Riddle III Chelsea, UK |
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Tony James Inner circle Cheshire UK 1398 Posts |
Ah - but travelling entertainers are still distrusted in the United Kingdom and treated with suspicion and doubt.
Tony James
Still A Child At Heart |
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Tom Riddle Special user Chelsea, UK 507 Posts |
So are Vicars!
"Yes, Virginia, there really are people named Riddle...isn't that AMAZING! And to think of all the royalties I'm missing out on! SCANDALOUS!"
Thomas Williamson Riddle III Chelsea, UK |
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Tony James Inner circle Cheshire UK 1398 Posts |
Don't forget the Scoutmasters, Tom!
Tony James
Still A Child At Heart |
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Tom Riddle Special user Chelsea, UK 507 Posts |
Yes Tony. However, I find generally that scoutmasters tend to be working class, with a few exceptions, ofcourse. My earlier point was more to do with class rather than anything else. What class would you place Mr. Punch, Tony?
"Yes, Virginia, there really are people named Riddle...isn't that AMAZING! And to think of all the royalties I'm missing out on! SCANDALOUS!"
Thomas Williamson Riddle III Chelsea, UK |
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Tony James Inner circle Cheshire UK 1398 Posts |
Mr Punch is classless Tom. He bridges all aspects of society. For hundreds of years he has and continues to amuse and entertain everyone from the humblest to the mightiest.
Not a lot of people know this but it was King Charles II who in 1662 had a Royal Command Performance of Mr Punch and paid the sort of money that would be considered excellent today. Then it was a fortune, more than a man might have earned in a lifetime. He's classless and ageless, one of the true family entertainments enthralling literally everyone from 1 year to 100 years plus. The Queen was brought up on Punch & Judy - her mother, Queen Elizabeth (known as the Queen Mother) loved Punch & Judy. As you will know, John Styles is the Queen's Punch & Judy man. Only the other year she bestowed another honour upon him and there were lovely pictures. He's recently retired as President of the British Ring of the IBM. An altogether splendid fellow. As is Mr Punch!
Tony James
Still A Child At Heart |
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Tom Riddle Special user Chelsea, UK 507 Posts |
"An altogether splendid fellow. As is Mr Punch!"
I am not convinced that Mr. Punch is a splendid fellow. He is very cruel to both his wife and her baby. I think, however, that the crocodile is a splendid fellow!
"Yes, Virginia, there really are people named Riddle...isn't that AMAZING! And to think of all the royalties I'm missing out on! SCANDALOUS!"
Thomas Williamson Riddle III Chelsea, UK |
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Tony James Inner circle Cheshire UK 1398 Posts |
It all rather depends on how the character of Punch is played.Like most theatrical parts it is a bit of a blank canvas and each performer plays him in his own way. he could be played as a vicious psychopath or at the other extreme as silly and childlike, the outcomes of his actions being accidental.
Neither is effective of course. Extremes rarely are. But between the two there is a path to be trod which adult and child alike find funny and stupid and unacceptable. And whilst each performer produces a very individual play, and the audience cannot be sure of where it's individual twists and turns are taking it, they continue to watch, safe in the knowledge that ultimately Punch will be scared out of his wits and get his just deserts. For "It is a werry moral story" as Mr Mowbray's Punchman put it back in the late 1840s.
Tony James
Still A Child At Heart |
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