Beyond the Fringe - Why I'd Rather Have Been a Judge than a Miner

"Sitting on the Bench" is the correct title from the album.
Peter Cook doing his thing in this supergroup of British comedians from the early '60s.
Interesting to note the variation from this album version and the live video posted by farleigh17: • Peter Cook - Experienc... MM!

[@drcaffeine1974]

One of the most brilliant sketches ever performed in the history of comedy!

[@GrafindeKlevemark]

Peter Cook tells this story without moving a muscle in his face - he is fantastic.

[@buesevin4041]

In a world gone mad what a relief to have a belly laugh

[@musamor75]

Real, proper humour- British style.

[@halwasserman7905]

Well this is a tad confusing. The versions of the Mining sketch I've heard before this (either one or two versions) did not contain the majority of what we hear here. All the mythological stuff is new to me. Don't know what to make of it. In any case, I think Peter Cook is the most brilliant comedian who there has ever been.

[@crokit]

Do you mean you find the ghastly one-eyed minnow odyssey to be a distraction? :) I became acquainted with BTF as a child via my mother's copy of the "original Broadway cast" Capital Records album - but subsequently i have stumbled across sometimes dramatic variations in some of their skits. Your comment inspired me to look for interviews where they might explain the evolution of their sketches. Just came across this gem - ua-cam.com/video/4yH6SbVk3j0/v-deo.html Please share anything that you are aware of.

[@Baribrotzer]

He's not doing that character quite as well he did later, where he slowed his speech wayyyy downnn, and accentuated the flaaaaatness of that voice.

[@crokit]

i don't disagree about the evolved approach but he also changed the text and since this is the version that I grew up with, I am particularly partial to it.

[@gwynnethcoan761]

@@crokit yep, my mother had this on a record (45 or EP) and it was constantly being played when I was a child. So wonderful to hear it again; almost word perfect in parts!

[@skyboyq]

E.L Wisty.