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As some of you will know, I have a fondness for the classic monologue "The Green Eye Of The Little Yellow God" by J. Milton Hayes. I know it's not PC, along with many other things for which I have a fondness, but I enjoy reciting it, even if I can only do it under my breath these days.
Many years ago now, I saw on television a performance of this monologue by Nicholas Parsons, which was constantly interrupted by William Franklyn and another actor I didn't recognise (it might have been Clive Dunn, out of his Corporal Jones makeup, but I'm not sure), in the persons of retired Indian Army officers, till Parsons eventually broke down completely. I found it hilarious, and have looked for it on Youtube many times without success.
Today, prompted by a post by![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
catsittingstill about working on her canoe, I looked for and found the text of "Three Ha'pence A Foot" by Marriott Edgar, another classic monologue, and discovered this site, much to my joy. And looking around the various delights on offer, lo and behold, there was the original text of the Parsons/Franklyn/whoever piece, which I reproduce below. I have taken the liberty of editing one particularly non-PC line, but I'm fairly sure that was redacted in the performance I saw as well. Anyone who really wants the original reading can find it on the site.
The attitudes and opinions of our quite recent ancestors were what they were, and there is no sense in pretending otherwise. This sketch pokes gentle fun at the relics of empire, which in these enlightened times we would treat rather more harshly. Personally, I prefer my fun gentle, even if it lets its targets off a little lightly, and I don't need a comic monologue to tell me what my politics should be. And if that sounds a little defensive, then so be it.
( Pukka Sahib )
Many years ago now, I saw on television a performance of this monologue by Nicholas Parsons, which was constantly interrupted by William Franklyn and another actor I didn't recognise (it might have been Clive Dunn, out of his Corporal Jones makeup, but I'm not sure), in the persons of retired Indian Army officers, till Parsons eventually broke down completely. I found it hilarious, and have looked for it on Youtube many times without success.
Today, prompted by a post by
catsittingstill about working on her canoe, I looked for and found the text of "Three Ha'pence A Foot" by Marriott Edgar, another classic monologue, and discovered this site, much to my joy. And looking around the various delights on offer, lo and behold, there was the original text of the Parsons/Franklyn/whoever piece, which I reproduce below. I have taken the liberty of editing one particularly non-PC line, but I'm fairly sure that was redacted in the performance I saw as well. Anyone who really wants the original reading can find it on the site.The attitudes and opinions of our quite recent ancestors were what they were, and there is no sense in pretending otherwise. This sketch pokes gentle fun at the relics of empire, which in these enlightened times we would treat rather more harshly. Personally, I prefer my fun gentle, even if it lets its targets off a little lightly, and I don't need a comic monologue to tell me what my politics should be. And if that sounds a little defensive, then so be it.
( Pukka Sahib )