Kasperle

In some German settings the following characters occur: Kasper, Gretel, Seppel, Grandmother, princess, king, witch, robber, and crocodile.

In Austria, Kasperl usually occurs alongside Pezi (the bear), Buffi (the dragon) or Mimi (the goose), and usually Großmutter and Großvater.

The puppet character currently named Kasper first appeared in Munich in 1858 in a marionette play (The Enchanted Lily) by Graf Pocci.

The structure of Kasper theater is also used to retell Grimm Fairy Tales such as Hansel and Gretel and Little Red Riding Hood.

Kasper and his friends often teach children important values about friendship, caution, justice, quick-witted response, resolve, and good-natured humor.

The Kaspars are generally violent, dishonest tricksters, and play out some form of political or social satire while beating each other with clubs.

Punch was introduced in Great Britain in the seventeenth century by an Italian performer named Pietro Gimonde.

Whereas the Max Jacob-inspired Kaspar has abandoned much of the bawdiness of 17th century street performance, Punch embraces it.

"Slapstick" originates from the Commedia Dell'arte baton made of wooden slats fastened together like a castanet.

In modern endings, Punch is punished by being swallowed by the crocodile, scared into repentance by a ghost, or arrested by the police.

In the Netherlands, he is Jan Klaassen, a character whose personality varies greatly from region to region—sometimes sweet, sometimes a trickster.