The Dead Parrot sketch is one of the most famous in the history of British television and voted number one on the List Universe’s Top 25 Monty Python sketches.
It portrays a conflict between disgruntled customer Mr. Eric Praline (played by John Cleese), and a shopkeeper (Michael Palin), who hold contradictory positions on the vital state of a “Norwegian Blue” parrot.
The sketch was based off an acting exercise where, if one of the actors repeat a line, they automatically lose. It was inspired by a Car Salesman sketch that Palin and Graham Chapman had done in How to Irritate People. In it, Palin played a car salesman who refused to admit that there was anything wrong with his customer’s (Chapman) car, even as it fell apart in front of him. That sketch was based on an actual incident between Palin and a car salesman.
For a little bit of easy homework answer the questions below:
- How does Palin react to Cleese’s various claims that the parrot is dead?
- How does Cleese pretend to try to wake up the parrot?
- What trick does Palin use to get the parrot to move?
- Palin is very inventive. How does he explain the fact that the parrot fell flat on its back the moment the customer got it home?
- Why does Palin once again say, “It’s a beautiful bird – lovely plumage”?
- What reason is given by Palin for having the bird restrained on its perch in the cage?
- What exaggeration is used by Palin to argue that the bird couldn’t possibly ‘voom’?
- Explain how the humour in this sketch is mainly achieved.
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