And now for something completely different.
Pedestrians making their way down the 2000 block of Jones Avenue may be seen doing high kicks, twirling and/or shuffling low to the ground with their legs splayed. They have, according to signs posted on the sidewalk, entered the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Silly Walks.
For the uncultured, silly walks stem from the classic Monty Python’s Flying Circus 1970 sketch of the same name, in which a humourless civil servant played by John Cleese goose steps and shuffles his way to work in a most silly fashion.
They’ve been making a comeback since COVID-19 left many people housebound and looking for some good natured mischief. Social media accounts have cropped up around the world capturing and sharing how people behave when they see a sign ordering them to Commence Silly Walking Immediately.
“It's just a stretch of 50 feet where you can just kind of be silly and let loose,” said the lifelong Python fan who imported it to the North Shore. “I think we’re all under quite a bit more stress these days and just to have a split second or a moment to have a chuckle, I think could turn some people’s day around.”
The best ones in North Van are edited and uploaded to the jonesave.sillywalks Instagram page. So far, more than 60 have made the cut.
Most people have responded well, said the woman who introduced the experiment here. Lots of folks attempt to recreate Cleese’s silly walk. Others take it in a different direction entirely. Some have come back later and brought their significant others and friends with them.
“Whether you understand Monty Python or not, it's kind of a fun experiment. But if you know Monty Python, it just adds that extra element of nostalgia and silliness to it,” she said.
Apart from the walks, there’s another moment in the videos she’s come to enjoy.
“Just to see the look of panic you can read on people's faces as they're reading the sign in that split second when they are trying to decide whether they're going to do it or not,” she said.
Not everyone has enjoyed the acts of guerilla performance art. On Friday, two municipal workers removed the signs. They made the day’s highlight reel.
The signs have since been replaced.
