In the early days of the internet a search for Lambert Chapman often produced Monty Python’s Buying a Bed due to the fact the Graham Chapman played Mr Lambert in that sketch. As our internet presence has increased such memories have diminished, or at least slipped from page 1 of the search engine, but with our entry into film not only has the reference returned but with links to the sketch on YouTube.
The sketch itself shows how life has changed since Messrs Chapman, Cleese, Palin, Jones, Idle and Gilliam sat down to write their material. These days buying a bed would probably involve much internet surfing – and possibly purchasing – before visiting a shop. Staff would be thinner on the ground and the store would probably sell just beds rather than be the type of department store that the newly weds run into.
Attitudes have also changed. Many in the retail trade will no doubt take offence at the sales assistants portrayed in the sketch rather than just enjoy the humour of the moment. When we watch once we have worked out what is going on we compute the numbers as we go along without thinking.
Interestingly Harry Hill focused on the poor maths of the Young Apprentice contestants in his Saturday show by reciting the four times table with the answers to the five times (and its quite hard to do). No doubt they would find it hard to keep up speed with the dimensions and prices.
So let’s wait no longer. Buying a Bed by Monty Python starring Terry Jones as the Bridegroom, Graham Chapman as Mr Lambert, Eric Idle as Mr Verity, John Cleese and Michael Palin as the singing sales assistants and Carol Cleveland as the Bride.
