without punch

Even without punch lines, the declarations were in keeping with the comedy acts that have made Fary a household name in France.

Yup, there’s no show without Punch.

There’s no show without Punch, of course, and the most regal of all the royal experts has long been Burrell, who ascended to this throne the minute he got let off his trial for stashing loads of his former employer’s clothes in his attic “for safekeeping”.

Well, there’s no show without Punch.

And because this is a play by Mr. LaBute, who doesn’t believe in riddles without punch lines, the question will be answered with exact literal-mindedness.