Bruces sketch
The Bruces sketch is a comedy sketch that originally appeared in a 1970 episode of the television show Monty Python's Flying Circus, episode 22, "How to Recognise Different Parts of the Body", and was subsequently performed on audio recordings and live on many occasions by the Monty Python team.
In reference to the sketch, Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson used the stage name "Bruce Bruce" while a member of the British hard rock band Samson.[1]
Description
The sketch involves four stereotypical "ocker" Australians of the period, who are all wearing khakis and cork hats. All are named Bruce, hence being known as the Bruces.
The skit begins with a shot of a man’s kneecap, labelled (as part of the episode’s theme, "How to Recognise Different Parts of the Body"). The camera zooms out to reveal it as belonging to an Australian man named Bruce (Eric Idle), who is seated with another man, also named Bruce (John Cleese). Their boss, a third Bruce (Graham Chapman) arrives with a new staff member, a "pommie" (Englishman) named Michael Baldwin (Terry Jones). The setting turns out to be a meeting of the Philosophy Department of the University of Woolamaloo. Because Baldwin's first name is different from everyone else's, he is asked if he minds being called "Bruce" to avoid confusion.
The department appears to be situated in nothing more than a simple wooden building somewhere near Uluru/Ayers Rock (which is visible in the distance behind them) in Australia's Northern Territory.[2]
The Bruces share a fondness for lager beer and a dislike of "poofters" (a derogatory Australian and English slang word for a homosexual). Cleese's character (who in a later sketch is called Bruce Beer) recites the seven faculty rules of the University of Woolamaloo:[3]
- No poofters.
- No member of the faculty is to maltreat the "Abos" in any way whatsoever—if there's anyone watching.
- No poofters.
- I don't want to catch anyone not drinking in their room after lights out.
- No poofters.
- There is no rule six.
- No poofters.
The meeting contains various prayers recited by the Bruces, including: "Oh Lord, we beseech thee. Amen.", "Australia, Australia, Australia, Australia, we love you. Amen.", and "This here's the wattle, the emblem of our land. You can stick it in a bottle or you can hold it in your hand. Amen."
After an Aboriginal servant hands over some steaks, the first Bruce notices something, exclaims, "Sidney Nolan! What’s that?!", and points at Baldwin’s ear, which is identified as the next part of the body.
Versions
The sketch appeared on the Matching Tie and Handkerchief album and in many of the team's stage shows, where it would be capped with a performance of "Bruces' Philosophers Song". Free cans of Foster's beer were tossed to the audience with the addition of a joke about American beer given at Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl.
A slightly different version of the sketch is recorded on Monty Python Live at Drury Lane. The identity of "Bruce" is Lauchlan Chipman, Professor of Philosophy and friend of Michael Palin. Chipman was the founding Chairman of the Philosophy Department at the University of Wollongong.[4][5]
Development
Eric Idle co-wrote the sketch with Cleese and said he based it on his Australian friends from the 1960s "who always seemed to be called Bruce".[6] Australian film director Bruce Beresford was friends with Idle while Idle was living in Notting Hill.[7]
The fictional University of Woolamaloo is either a misspelling of or a name derived from the Sydney suburb of Woolloomooloo, which is pronounced "Woolamaloo" with an Australian accent.
References
- ^ Shooman, Joe (2007). Bruce Dickinson: Flashing Metal with Iron Maiden and Flying Solo. Independent Music. ISBN 978-0-9552822-4-9.
- ^ Chapman, Graham; Cleese, John; Gilliam, Terry; Idle, Eric; Jones, Terry; Palin, Michael (1990). Monty Python's Flying Circus – Just The Words. Vol. 1. London: Mandarin. p. 295. ISBN 978-0-7493-0226-9.
- ^ Larsen, Darl (2003). Monty Python, Shakespeare, and English Renaissance drama. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. p. 199. ISBN 9780786481095.
- ^ Chipman, Lauchlan (9 October 1977). "What Price the useless Arts?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Publishing. p. 62. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
- ^ Oppy, Graham; Trakakis, N. N.; et al. (2010). "Chapter 22". A companion to philosophy in Australia & New Zealand. Clayton, Vic.: Monash University Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9806512-0-1. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
- ^ Johnson, Kim "Howard" (1989). The First 20 Years of Monty Python. New York, NY: St. Martin's Press. p. 107. ISBN 0-312-03309-5.
- ^ Question answered by Idle at VIP Meet and Greet session after Monty Python: Nearly Live at O2 on 19 July 2014
- v
- t
- e
- Another Record
- Previous Record
- Matching Tie and Handkerchief
- Holy Grail
- Life of Brian
- Contractual Obligation
- The Meaning of Life
- Flying Circus
- Live at Drury Lane
- Live at City Center
- The Pythons
- Life of Python
- Almost the Truth (Lawyers Cut)
- And Now for Something Rather Similar
- The Meaning of Live
- Spamalot
- Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy)
- An Evening Without Monty Python
- Live (Mostly)
- Big Red Book
- Brand New Bok
- Holy Grail (Book)
- Life of Brian/SCRAPBOOK
- The Meaning of Life
- Just the Words
- Song Book
- A Pocketful of Python
- The Pythons Autobiography by The Pythons
- Live!
- Flying Circus
- Complete Waste of Time
- Quest for the Holy Grail
- The Meaning of Life
- Cow Tossing
- The Ministry of Silly Walks
- Mr Praline
- The Colonel
- Mr Creosote
- Rabbit of Caerbannog
- Other characters
- Albatross!
- Anne Elk's Theory on Brontosauruses
- Architects
- Argument Clinic
- Bruces
- Cheese Shop
- Colin "Bomber" Harris vs Colin "Bomber" Harris
- Crunchy Frog
- Dead Parrot
- Dirty Fork
- Dirty Hungarian Phrasebook
- Election Night Special
- Fish Licence
- Fish-Slapping Dance
- Four Yorkshiremen
- The Funniest Joke in the World
- How Not to Be Seen
- Kilimanjaro Expedition
- Lifeboat
- Marriage Guidance Counsellor
- Ministry of Silly Walks
- Mouse Problem
- Nudge Nudge
- Patient Abuse
- Philosophers' Football Match
- Piranha Brothers
- Sam Peckinpah's "Salad Days"
- Seduced Milkmen
- Spam
- Spanish Inquisition
- Undertakers
- Upper Class Twit of the Year
- Vocational Guidance Counsellor
- World Forum/Communist Quiz
- "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life"
- "Brian Song"
- "Bruces' Philosophers Song"
- "Decomposing Composers"
- "Eric the Half-a-Bee"
- "Every Sperm Is Sacred"
- "Finland"
- "Galaxy Song"
- "I Bet You They Won't Play This Song on the Radio"
- "I Like Chinese"
- "I've Got Two Legs"
- "The Lumberjack Song"
- "Medical Love Song"
- "Oliver Cromwell"
- "Sit on My Face"
- List of Monty Python projects
- The Foot of Cupid
- Cambridge Circus
- I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again
- The Frost Report
- At Last the 1948 Show
- Twice a Fortnight
- Do Not Adjust Your Set
- We Have Ways of Making You Laugh
- Broaden Your Mind
- How to Irritate People
- The Complete and Utter History of Britain
- The Fred Tomlinson Singers
- Teach Yourself Heath
- Tiny Black Round Thing
- Bert Fegg's Nasty Book for Boys and Girls
- Rutland Weekend Television
- Fawlty Towers
- Ripping Yarns
- Out of the Trees
- A Poke in the Eye (With a Sharp Stick)
- Monty Python v. ABC
- Python On Song
- All You Need Is Cash
- The Secret Policeman's Ball
- A Liar's Autobiography: Volume VI
- The Hastily Cobbled Together for a Fast Buck Album
- The Wind in the Willows
- Monty Python Live
- Concert for George
- Diaries 1969–1979: The Python Years
- The Seventh Python
- Holy Flying Circus
- A Liar's Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman
- Absolutely Anything