Architects Sketch
Encyclopedia
The "Architects Sketch" is a Monty Python
sketch
, first seen in episode 17 of Monty Python's Flying Circus
, "The Buzz Aldrin Show".
(on film) who keep shouting "The Architects Sketch" over and over again until Mr. Tid (Graham Chapman
) yells at them to shut up. They then start shouting "Sorry!" over and over, and Mr. Tid throws a bucket of water on them from several stories up.
The sketch proper begins with Tid in an office with two City gents (Michael Palin
and Terry Jones
). On a table near the window stand two architectural model
s of tower block
s. Mr. Tid
informs the City gents that he has invited the architects responsible to explain the advantages of their respective designs.
First to arrive is Mr. Wiggin (John Cleese
), who proceeds to describe his design's neo-Georgian
features and modern construction, and then explains that tenants entering the block will be carried on a conveyor belt
towards a soundproofed section containing rotating knives
. Mention of knives alarms the first city gent. It turns out that Mr. Wiggin mainly designs slaughterhouse
s and has misunderstood the owners' attitude to their tenants. When Mr. Wiggin fails to persuade them to accept his design ("You wouldn't regret this – think of the tourist trade!") he launches into a long, impassioned tirade against "non-creative garbage" and blackballing Freemasons
. When they still reject his design, however, he immediately recants and begs – unsuccessfully – to be accepted as a Mason because "Masonry opens doors".
Once Wiggin has been persuaded to leave the second architect, Mr. Leavey (Eric Idle
), arrives. Mr. Leavey proceeds to describe the strong construction and safety features of his design. His model promptly ignites and collapses in the manner of the recent Ronan Point
disaster, accompanied by a large on-screen caption reading "SATIRE
". The City gents assure Mr. Leavey that provided the tenants are "of light build and relatively sedentary" there should be no need to make expensive changes to the design. Meanwhile the model explodes.
The City gents exchange bizarre Masonic handshakes with Leavey. Wiggin reappears at the doorway, breaking the fourth wall
to tell the audience "It opens doors, I'm telling you".
This leads into a filmed section about "How to Recognise a Mason", in which Masons are shown engaging in such bizarre behavior as hopping down the street with their trousers around their ankles. Finally, there follows an animation in which an announcer attempts to "cure" a Mason (an animated cutout of Chapman) through behavioral therapy, in which he is rewarded for the correct response with a picture of a nude woman. The announcer asks the subject if he would like to give up being a Mason, showing him the nude picture several times as encouragement. When the Mason says "No", the enraged announcer crushes him with a giant hammer.
Monty Python
Monty Python was a British surreal comedy group who created their influential Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series...
sketch
Sketch comedy
A sketch comedy consists of a series of short comedy scenes or vignettes, called "sketches," commonly between one and ten minutes long. Such sketches are performed by a group of comic actors or comedians, either on stage or through an audio and/or visual medium such as broadcasting...
, first seen in episode 17 of Monty Python's Flying Circus
Monty Python's Flying Circus
Monty Python’s Flying Circus is a BBC TV sketch comedy series. The shows were composed of surreality, risqué or innuendo-laden humour, sight gags and observational sketches without punchlines...
, "The Buzz Aldrin Show".
Description
The sketch is introduced by a group of GumbiesGumbies
Gumbys are recurring characters in Monty Python's Flying Circus, characterized by a very distinctive appearance. If a name was listed for them, the surname given would always be "Gumby", and the first name would usually be given as two initials...
(on film) who keep shouting "The Architects Sketch" over and over again until Mr. Tid (Graham Chapman
Graham Chapman
Graham Arthur Chapman was a British comedian, physician, writer, actor, and one of the six members of the Monty Python comedy troupe.-Early life and education:...
) yells at them to shut up. They then start shouting "Sorry!" over and over, and Mr. Tid throws a bucket of water on them from several stories up.
The sketch proper begins with Tid in an office with two City gents (Michael Palin
Michael Palin
Michael Edward Palin, CBE FRGS is an English comedian, actor, writer and television presenter best known for being one of the members of the comedy group Monty Python and for his travel documentaries....
and Terry Jones
Terry Jones
Terence Graham Parry Jones is a Welsh comedian, screenwriter, actor, film director, children's author, popular historian, political commentator, and TV documentary host. He is best known as a member of the Monty Python comedy team....
). On a table near the window stand two architectural model
Architectural model
An architectural model is a type of a scale model, tangible representation of a structure built to study aspects of an architectural design or to communicate design ideas to clients, committees, and the general public...
s of tower block
Tower block
A tower block, high-rise, apartment tower, office tower, apartment block, or block of flats, is a tall building or structure used as a residential and/or office building...
s. Mr. Tid
informs the City gents that he has invited the architects responsible to explain the advantages of their respective designs.
First to arrive is Mr. Wiggin (John Cleese
John Cleese
John Marwood Cleese is an English actor, comedian, writer, and film producer. He achieved success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and as a scriptwriter and performer on The Frost Report...
), who proceeds to describe his design's neo-Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
features and modern construction, and then explains that tenants entering the block will be carried on a conveyor belt
Conveyor belt
A conveyor belt consists of two or more pulleys, with a continuous loop of material - the conveyor belt - that rotates about them. One or both of the pulleys are powered, moving the belt and the material on the belt forward. The powered pulley is called the drive pulley while the unpowered pulley...
towards a soundproofed section containing rotating knives
Knife
A knife is a cutting tool with an exposed cutting edge or blade, hand-held or otherwise, with or without a handle. Knives were used at least two-and-a-half million years ago, as evidenced by the Oldowan tools...
. Mention of knives alarms the first city gent. It turns out that Mr. Wiggin mainly designs slaughterhouse
Slaughterhouse
A slaughterhouse or abattoir is a facility where animals are killed for consumption as food products.Approximately 45-50% of the animal can be turned into edible products...
s and has misunderstood the owners' attitude to their tenants. When Mr. Wiggin fails to persuade them to accept his design ("You wouldn't regret this – think of the tourist trade!") he launches into a long, impassioned tirade against "non-creative garbage" and blackballing Freemasons
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
. When they still reject his design, however, he immediately recants and begs – unsuccessfully – to be accepted as a Mason because "Masonry opens doors".
Once Wiggin has been persuaded to leave the second architect, Mr. Leavey (Eric Idle
Eric Idle
Eric Idle is an English comedian, actor, author, singer, writer, and comedic composer. He was as a member of the British comedy group Monty Python, a member of the The Rutles on Saturday Night Live and author of the play, Spamalot....
), arrives. Mr. Leavey proceeds to describe the strong construction and safety features of his design. His model promptly ignites and collapses in the manner of the recent Ronan Point
Ronan Point
Ronan Point was a 22-story tower block in Newham, east London, which suffered a partial collapse when a gas explosion demolished a load-bearing wall, causing the collapse of one entire corner of the building...
disaster, accompanied by a large on-screen caption reading "SATIRE
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
". The City gents assure Mr. Leavey that provided the tenants are "of light build and relatively sedentary" there should be no need to make expensive changes to the design. Meanwhile the model explodes.
The City gents exchange bizarre Masonic handshakes with Leavey. Wiggin reappears at the doorway, breaking the fourth wall
Fourth wall
The fourth wall is the imaginary "wall" at the front of the stage in a traditional three-walled box set in a proscenium theatre, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play...
to tell the audience "It opens doors, I'm telling you".
This leads into a filmed section about "How to Recognise a Mason", in which Masons are shown engaging in such bizarre behavior as hopping down the street with their trousers around their ankles. Finally, there follows an animation in which an announcer attempts to "cure" a Mason (an animated cutout of Chapman) through behavioral therapy, in which he is rewarded for the correct response with a picture of a nude woman. The announcer asks the subject if he would like to give up being a Mason, showing him the nude picture several times as encouragement. When the Mason says "No", the enraged announcer crushes him with a giant hammer.