Lyle the Kindly Viking

Lyle, the Kindly Viking

2003 VeggieTales Classics DVD art
Directed by Tim Hodge
Marc Vulcano
Produced by Jennifer Combs
Written by Phil Vischer
Eric Metaxas
Marc Vulcano
Tim Hodge
Starring Phil Vischer
Mike Nawrocki
Lisa Vischer
Jim Poole
G. Bock
Pamela Thomas
Marc Vulcano
Music by Kurt Heinecke
Marc Vulcano
Edited by John Wahba
Production
company
Big Idea Productions
Distributed by Lyrick Studios
Warner Home Video
Word Entertainment
Sony Wonder
Release dates
 March 24, 2001
Running time
 36 minutes 30 seconds
Country United States
Language English

Lyle the Kindly Viking is the 15th episode of the VeggieTales animated series. It was released March 24, 2001 on both VHS and DVD and it was distributed by both Word and Lyrick Studios. The video features two short stories about sharing; one a parody of Shakespeare's Hamlet and the other a parody of a Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera.

Synopsis

In an attempt to bring a higher level of class and sophistication to VeggieTales, Archibald Asparagus requests and receives permission to run the show. The countertop is then modified with a faux fireplace and wing chair (a la Masterpiece Theatre) and Archibald introduces the first segment.

This segment was intended to be a VeggieTales production of the Shakespearean play Hamlet with the help of Phillipe and Jean-Claude, The French Peas. In the story, Omelet, played by Jimmy Gourd, is a prince of a kingdom in Denmark who desires some eggs "cooked light and fluffy" to eat. A baker brings them to him and informs Omelet that these are the last eggs in the kingdom. Regardless, Omelet feels happy about eating the eggs until Ophelia (played by a cross-dressing Mr. Lunt, who remarks "I think we're gonna get letters about this.") asks him to instead share the eggs with the kingdom. However Omelet selfishly refuses. Later, Omelet joins a game of Battleship with young lad and is encouraged by him to share the eggs. As Omelet announces his plan to share, he learns that the town has plenty of eggs (they were being used for ping-pong balls) and has light-and-fluffy eggs, or "omelettes", cooked for everybody. Larry and Junior in the audience are bewildered by the antiquated English.

Following this segment is the introduction to the usual "Silly Songs with Larry". Archibald intervenes and changes the segment to "Classy Songs with Larry". Opening with a bus stop scene similar to Forrest Gump and sung to the tune of Funiculi Funicula, Larry tells a growing group of bystanders (including Art Bigotti, Miss Achmetha, and Scallion #1) about his "high silk hat" and box of chocolates, while trying to keep his hat from being ruined or his chocolates from melting in the hot sun. Eventually Apollo Gourd comes and sits on Larry's hat and chocolate, much to his dismay.

Finally, Archibald presents the "long lost musical of Gilbert and Sullivan," provided by The French Peas, entitled Lyle the Kindly Viking. In this segment, the plot focuses on Lyle (Junior Asparagus) who quietly lives on an island with his fellow Vikings. As the Vikings return to the island with loot pillaged from a nearby monastery, Lyle slips out on his own ship and gives the monks his minuscule share of loot (and homemade potholders) as a small act of recompensation. One day, Lyle's trips are discovered by fellow Vikings Sven and Otar (Bob and Larry), who confront him but Lyle convinces them that sharing is a much nicer alternative to pillaging and plundering. The next day, Lyle is discovered by the Viking leader Olaf (Mr. Nezzer), who does not approve of Lyle's beliefs and wants to make an example of him. But when a great storm causes huge waves to capsize the Viking ships, the monks rescue Lyle and Lyle then convinces the Monks to save the rest of the doomed Vikings. This show of kindness convinces the Vikings to turn over a new leaf and share what they have.

In the closing countertop sequence, Archibald discovers that his story was not written by Gilbert and Sullivan, but rather by "Gilbert Jones" and "Sullivan O'Kelly". Angry at being duped, Archibald chases the French Peas off and the scene falls into chaos.

Production

Tim Hodge, a former Disney animator, directed his first film. Marc Vulcano wrote, directed, and composed the Silly Song "Larry's High Silk Hat".

Cast of Characters

Omelet

Larry's High Silk Hat

Lyle the Kindly Viking

Songs

In addition to the ubiquitous "VeggieTales Theme" and "What We Have Learned," this episode contains the following songs:

Releases

On March 24, 2001, this show was released for the first time on both VHS and DVD by Word and Lyrick Studios. Then, in 2002, Warner Home Video had re-released the show, and then in 2003, it was reissued again on VHS and DVD as part of the VeggieTales classics line. Finally, in 2009, the DVD was re-released with restored contrast and sound.

References

1. http://www1.epinions.com/content_18151345796

2. http://christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2001/veggie-lyle.html

External links