Bruces sketch
The Bruces sketch is a
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 (
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
- 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
- ISBN 978-0-9552822-4-9.
- ISBN 978-0-7493-0226-9.
- ISBN 9780786481095.
- ^ Chipman, Lauchlan (9 October 1977). "What Price the useless Arts?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Publishing. p. 62. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
- ISBN 978-0-9806512-0-1. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
- 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