Hahaha ... I knew it wouldn't take long, LOL!
I used to know that sketch so well that I think I could repeat it word for word (parrot fashion
). I worked in theatre and was lucky enough to see Monty Python live on-stage a couple of times. Not only were they funnier than on TV, they were *superb* actors (they constantly ad-libbed and took the pi** out of the audience). It takes a lot of skill to sustain a comedy over a 2hr show. We were in stitches/agony!!
One night, we had the dreaded punter in the audience that would say the line out loud a second before the actor delivered it. When John Cleese heard his line "does it talk?" come at him, he didn't stop for a millisecond, but turned round, stared right at the twit in the front row and said "can it articulate somewhat?".
In the famous "Torremolinos" travel-agent sketch, Michael Palin kept up a high speed monologue for what seemed like ages. He had a radio mike, so even when the men in the white coats dragged him off the stage, through the auditorium and right out into the street, he was still ranting. Marvellous stuff!
Michael Palin again ... in a later sketch .. appeared to get very offended by some heckling. He stopped, strode right over to that side of the stage and shouted and screamed that he had better things to do in life than entertain the likes of him. We all went *very*quiet. It looked ugly. There was a full 30sec silence, after which Palin said "Do you know what I'd really want to do? What I'd *really* like to be???" Another [long] pause ... "a LUMBERJACK!!!" - and they launched the song. It brought the house down!
Adam.
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 5:47 pm
Watch on youtube.com