Cambridge Circus
A revue devised by members of the Cambridge University Dramatic Society; Music and lyrics; Hugh MacDonald and Bill Oddie.
New Arts Theatre Club - 10 July, 1963
The Cast included;
Tim Brooke-Taylor, Anthony Buffery, John Cleese, David Hatch, Jo Kendall, Bill Oddie, Chris Stuart-Clark
Musical Director: Hugh MacDonald
"A Clump of Plinths" — "Cambridge Circus"
The 1963 revue, entitled "A Clump of Plinths" (later retitled Cambridge Circus), played at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1963 before opening at West End in London on 10 July 1963. Unfortunately, the revised title sometimes confused audiences, as it was not actually playing at Cambridge Circus itself. "Cambridge Circus" then toured New Zealand in July and August 1964, where they recorded a television special and four radio shows which were eventually broadcast in November and December 1964.
Following their successful New Zealand tour, "Cambridge Circus" transferred to Broadway in September 1964 and finally Off-Broadway. The revue was broadcast on television in the United States when the cast made an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show during October 1964, featuring some of the sketches.
The show was written by, and starred, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, David Hatch, Bill Oddie, Chris Stuart-Clark and Jo Kendall. Also in the original cast was Tony Buffery, who later became an experimental psychologist. Jonathan Lynn also later joined the cast. As well as writing and acting in the revue, Bill Oddie also wrote the music for the revue, and an album of sketches and songs, produced by George Martin, was released by Parlophone in 1963. Graham Chapman took over from Tony Buffery when he left the revue to pursue an academic career. Likewise, Jonathan Lynn took over from Chris Stuart-Clark when Stuart-Clark left to become a schoolteacher.
This revue is a notable part of British television history because it includes early appearances by John Cleese and Graham Chapman (later members of Monty Python), as well as Tim Brooke-Taylor and Bill Oddie (later members of The Goodies), and Jonathan Lynn (later one of the co-writers of Yes Minister, and Yes, Prime Minister).
Sketches
Sketches in the revue included;
- Swap a Jest - with Tim Brooke-Taylor and Chris Stuart-Clark as Elizabethan entertainers. Later, with Tim Brooke-Taylor and Jonathan Lynn (who replaced Chris Stuart-Clark).
- Cloak and Dagger sketch - with John Cleese.
- Custard Pie sketch - with Bill Oddie, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Jonathan Lynn demonstrating the throwing of custard pies. David Hatch narrated the sketch.
- Judge Not (written by John Cleese) - with John Cleese (as the prosecuting counsel), David Hatch (as the judge), Tim Brooke-Taylor (as Percy Molar - company director of no fixed abode and music-hall comedian), Tony Buffery (as Arnold Fitch - the defendant), and Bill Oddie (as Sidney Bottle - the plaintiff). (Tim Brooke-Tayor and Bill Oddie also appeared in the sketch as ushers).
The Programme included:
- Green Line Bus
- Patients, for the use of
- Boring Sexy Song
- Great moments in British theatre
- Pride and joy
- B.B.C.B.C.
- Sing Sing
- Boring Straight Song
- Swap a jest
- Those were the days
- O.H.M.S.
- Judge Not
Discography: