The Four Sydney Lotterbies
Encyclopedia
"The Four Sydney Lotterbies" was a British comedy sketch that was performed on an episode of the 1967-1968 sketch comedy
TV series At Last the 1948 Show
. The four main actors (the four "Sydney Lotterbies") in the sketch were John Cleese
, Marty Feldman
, Tim Brooke-Taylor
, and Graham Chapman
, each of whom had a hand in writing the dialogue. The sketch was named for Cleese's associate, the television producer and director Sydney Lotterby
. "The Four Sydney Lotterbies" is one of the relatively few 1948 Show sketches that today survive in video as well as in audio format. The sketch can be seen on the commercially available DVD compilation of the series and heard (in a slightly abbreviated form) on its original soundtrack album, which has been transferred to CD.
The Sketch
The action takes place in an outdoor cafe
in "sunny Spain
." As the sketch begins, Cleese is seen sitting at a table with Brooke-Taylor, who is hidden behind a copy of the London Financial Times. Feldman enters and approaches Cleese, asking if he hasn't seen him somewhere before. Presently, the two men recognize each other as having both been "on the plane on the way over." As neither of them knows the exact time of day, they both try to ask Brooke-Taylor, addressing him in Spanish. He answers in English: "Beg pardon, were you gentlemen addressing me? Oh, goodness me! Weren't you two on the plane on the way over?" By now it is plain that the three men, who are all dressed similarly in shorts and Bermuda shirts, also sound exactly alike. The threesome becomes a foursome when Chapman joins it, speaking too in the same rather nasal tone of voice.
The humor of the fact that the four men sound alike is increased when Feldman tries to "place" each of the other men "by his accent" -- a typically English pastime. Despite the fact that they all have the same accent, Feldman is from Wimbledon
, Chapman from Bristol
, Cleese from Manchester
, and Brooke-Taylor from Edinburgh
(though he adds, when Feldman tells him he doesn't "sound like a Scottie," that he has spent most of his life in Cardiff
). What is more we find, when the men get around to introducing themselves, that they all have the same name -- Sydney Lotterby -- and that they all work as "wholesale greengrocers" -- all, that is, except for Feldman, who is a barrister
but "used to be a wholesale greengrocer." The humor climaxes when Chapman's "little lady" enters, saying "Come, Sydney! We'll be late," and all four men rise at once -- then turn to each other and remark, in unison, "Well, there's a coincidence!"
The Sketch as Satire
"The Four Sydney Lotterbies" is based on such a whimsical idea and was performed with such a sense of innocent fun that its (gently) satirical aspect is easily overlooked. Yet the sketch is obviously a comment on conformity, and perhaps on the tendency of travelers (British travelers, in this case) to do and say all the things they would normally do and say, even when vacationing abroad. To this satirical end, the dialogue is full of typically British cliches: "Goodness me," "Well, there's a turn-up," "Fancy you remembering that," "Well, there you are then," and the ironic
"It takes all sorts to make a world." Another possible parodistic target is the polite speech with which the English are usually credited. At one point in the (video version of the) sketch, Feldman says to Brooke-Taylor, "Well, forgive me saying this, but I was admiring your shirt." And Brooke-Taylor replies, "Oh, thank you very much. I was in fact casting a few envious glances at your apparel." This seems an overly polite and formal way to talk, even for the English.
Sources consulted:
1. At Last the 1948 Show. Dir. Ian Fordyce. With John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Marty Feldman, and Aimi MacDonald. Tango Entertainment, 2005.
2. At Last the 1948 Show. With Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Marty Feldman, and Aimi MacDonald. El Records, 2007.
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...
TV series At Last the 1948 Show
At Last the 1948 Show
At Last the 1948 Show is a satirical TV show made by David Frost's company, Paradine Productions , in association with Rediffusion London...
. The four main actors (the four "Sydney Lotterbies") in the sketch were 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...
, Marty Feldman
Marty Feldman
Martin Alan "Marty" Feldman was an English comedy writer, comedian and actor who starred in a series of British television comedy shows, including At Last the 1948 Show, and Marty, which won two BAFTA awards and was the first Saturn Award winner for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Young...
, Tim Brooke-Taylor
Tim Brooke-Taylor
Timothy Julian Brooke-Taylor OBE is an English comic actor. He became active in performing in comedy sketches while at Cambridge University, and became President of the Footlights club, touring internationally with the Footlights revue in 1964...
, and 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:...
, each of whom had a hand in writing the dialogue. The sketch was named for Cleese's associate, the television producer and director Sydney Lotterby
Sydney Lotterby
Sydney Lotterby OBE is a British television producer and director. He started as a cameraman at the BBC and progressed to becoming technical manager...
. "The Four Sydney Lotterbies" is one of the relatively few 1948 Show sketches that today survive in video as well as in audio format. The sketch can be seen on the commercially available DVD compilation of the series and heard (in a slightly abbreviated form) on its original soundtrack album, which has been transferred to CD.
The Sketch
The action takes place in an outdoor cafe
Café
A café , also spelled cafe, in most countries refers to an establishment which focuses on serving coffee, like an American coffeehouse. In the United States, it may refer to an informal restaurant, offering a range of hot meals and made-to-order sandwiches...
in "sunny Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
." As the sketch begins, Cleese is seen sitting at a table with Brooke-Taylor, who is hidden behind a copy of the London Financial Times. Feldman enters and approaches Cleese, asking if he hasn't seen him somewhere before. Presently, the two men recognize each other as having both been "on the plane on the way over." As neither of them knows the exact time of day, they both try to ask Brooke-Taylor, addressing him in Spanish. He answers in English: "Beg pardon, were you gentlemen addressing me? Oh, goodness me! Weren't you two on the plane on the way over?" By now it is plain that the three men, who are all dressed similarly in shorts and Bermuda shirts, also sound exactly alike. The threesome becomes a foursome when Chapman joins it, speaking too in the same rather nasal tone of voice.
The humor of the fact that the four men sound alike is increased when Feldman tries to "place" each of the other men "by his accent" -- a typically English pastime. Despite the fact that they all have the same accent, Feldman is from Wimbledon
Wimbledon, London
Wimbledon is a district in the south west area of London, England, located south of Wandsworth, and east of Kingston upon Thames. It is situated within Greater London. It is home to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and New Wimbledon Theatre, and contains Wimbledon Common, one of the largest areas...
, Chapman from Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, Cleese from Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, and Brooke-Taylor from Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
(though he adds, when Feldman tells him he doesn't "sound like a Scottie," that he has spent most of his life in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
). What is more we find, when the men get around to introducing themselves, that they all have the same name -- Sydney Lotterby -- and that they all work as "wholesale greengrocers" -- all, that is, except for Feldman, who is a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
but "used to be a wholesale greengrocer." The humor climaxes when Chapman's "little lady" enters, saying "Come, Sydney! We'll be late," and all four men rise at once -- then turn to each other and remark, in unison, "Well, there's a coincidence!"
The Sketch as Satire
"The Four Sydney Lotterbies" is based on such a whimsical idea and was performed with such a sense of innocent fun that its (gently) satirical aspect is easily overlooked. Yet the sketch is obviously a comment on conformity, and perhaps on the tendency of travelers (British travelers, in this case) to do and say all the things they would normally do and say, even when vacationing abroad. To this satirical end, the dialogue is full of typically British cliches: "Goodness me," "Well, there's a turn-up," "Fancy you remembering that," "Well, there you are then," and the ironic
Irony
Irony is a rhetorical device, literary technique, or situation in which there is a sharp incongruity or discordance that goes beyond the simple and evident intention of words or actions...
"It takes all sorts to make a world." Another possible parodistic target is the polite speech with which the English are usually credited. At one point in the (video version of the) sketch, Feldman says to Brooke-Taylor, "Well, forgive me saying this, but I was admiring your shirt." And Brooke-Taylor replies, "Oh, thank you very much. I was in fact casting a few envious glances at your apparel." This seems an overly polite and formal way to talk, even for the English.
Sources consulted:
1. At Last the 1948 Show. Dir. Ian Fordyce. With John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Marty Feldman, and Aimi MacDonald. Tango Entertainment, 2005.
2. At Last the 1948 Show. With Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Marty Feldman, and Aimi MacDonald. El Records, 2007.