Even if you don’t know the BeaÂtÂles, you know “Love Me Do.” Even if you don’t know the Rolling Stones, you know “SatÂisÂfacÂtion.” Even if you don’t know MonÂty Python, you know “The MinÂistry of SilÂly Walks.” Like an AM radio hit, the sketch works on sevÂerÂal difÂferÂent aesÂthetÂic and intelÂlecÂtuÂal levÂels while capÂtiÂvatÂing audiÂences of disÂparate ages and culÂtures, all withÂin the span of a few minÂutes. As a satire of British govÂernÂment bureauÂcraÂcy it comÂpares, in its way, to Antony Jay and Jonathan LynÂn’s series Yes MinÂisÂter, which would debut on the BBC a decade latÂer. As sheer physÂiÂcal comÂeÂdy, it draws its powÂer, as all those old songs do, from the innate charÂacÂterÂisÂtics of its perÂformÂers. Or rather, from John Cleese, who not only looks the part of a born estabÂlishÂment figÂure, but stands nearÂly six and a half feet tall.
Though few of us can sing like Paul McCartÂney or Mick JagÂger, it doesÂn’t stop us from joinÂing in when their songs come on the radio. By the same token, though few of us posÂsess the sheer leg length to walk as silÂly as Cleese does, we can all genÂerÂate our own kind of levÂiÂty by givÂing our best. And much of the UnitÂed States, locked down by the coroÂnÂavirus panÂdemÂic, levÂiÂty is just what’s needÂed. Hence the estabÂlishÂment of YorkÂshire SilÂly Walks, which announces itself in no uncerÂtain terms: “YOU HAVE ENTERED THE JURISDICTION OF THE MINISTRY OF SILLY WALKS,” reads its signs. “COMMENCE SILLY WALKING IMMEDIATELY.” All who pass through this terÂriÂtoÂry are capÂtured by a video camÂera, and some will latÂer find themÂselves postÂed to YorkÂshire SilÂly Walks’ InstaÂgram page — as long as they’ve walked with sufÂfiÂcient silliÂness.
They don’t have to do it for long: the jurisÂdicÂtion of this MinÂistry of SilÂly Walks extends only across the sideÂwalk in front of a sinÂgle house in Grosse Pointe Park, MichiÂgan. The homeÂ’s YorkÂshire Road address will conÂjure up memÂoÂries of anothÂer beloved sketch in the minds of seriÂous Python fans — a group to which Liz Koto and her famÂiÂly, the houseÂ’s occuÂpants, must belong. They’ve postÂed to InstaÂgram well over 100 videos, each capÂturÂing a difÂferÂent silÂly walk exeÂcutÂed by the peoÂple of their subÂurÂban neighÂborÂhood out for a stroll — just about the only thing many AmerÂiÂcans can do to get out of the house these days. And they do it more joyÂfulÂly than Cleese himÂself, who has spoÂken of how, like a rock star conÂdemned to play the same hit over and over again, he grew deeply weary of playÂing the MinÂisÂter of SilÂly Walks on stage for MonÂty Python’s live shows over the decades. After havÂing underÂgone two hip replaceÂments, he’s sureÂly hapÂpy to leave silÂly-walkÂing to the fans.
via LaughÂing Squid
RelatÂed ConÂtent:
John Cleese on The ImporÂtance of MakÂing and EmbracÂing MisÂtakes
Based in Seoul, ColÂin MarÂshall writes and broadÂcasts on cities, lanÂguage, and culÂture. His projects include the book The StateÂless City: a Walk through 21st-CenÂtuÂry Los AngeÂles and the video series The City in CinÂeÂma. FolÂlow him on TwitÂter at @colinmarshall, on FaceÂbook, or on InstaÂgram.
Great way to laugh away our worÂries and our rights!
But that woman reporter behind the desk realÂly needs to rethink her eyeÂlashÂes!!