If the phrases "I'm a lumberjack and I'm okay" and "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition" hold special meaning for you, or you just enjoy acting silly, then the Monty Python Society might be worth checking out.

The society is both a social club and a fan club for people who subscribe to the Monty Python brand of humor, said club treasurer Jon Acheson (sophomore-division of undergraduate studies).

Established independently in the mid 1970s, the club -- which has no national affiliation -- is based on the popular British television show Monty Python's Flying Circus, and has 80 members.

Members meet every two weeks to re-enact some of their favorite Python moments in skits and plan crazy activities such as the "Mall climb," based on a Flying Circus episode, in which actors scale a flat sidewalk as they would an inclined plane.

Members plan to perform the feat on the Mall near Pattee Library in the spring, club secretary Matt Pyson said.

"The idea is to give people something silly to look at," said Pyson (senior-film).

Club President Floyd Crossman (senior-math) commented, "The club offers a chance to get out and blow some steam in a very unorthodox way."

While Angela Ford (junior-film) said she was not interested in joining the club, she expressed an appreciation of Monty Python films, noting: "Monty Python really knows the film medium. (Troupe members) know how to get the effects they want."

During this year's homecoming parade, club members acted out skits from the Flying Circus TV show and movies, putting special emphasis this year on The Holy Grail, a Python movie spoof on King Arthur and his times, Pyson said.

Parade crowds responded favorably to the club, shouting out the parts they knew from the pieces performed, Acheson said.

The society is just now coming into its own, and is working to secure funding from the University's Student Organization Budget Committee, Crossman said.

If this attempt is successful, the club would like to sponsor comedy films on campus such as Monty Python's Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life.

Membership in the club -- which meets every other Wednesday -- is open to all University students, Crossman said.