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And now number seven, the Larch. Yes that seems like an appropriately obscure Python reference to open with. If you can name me a group of comedians who have had a bigger influence on humour for the screen and stage than Monty Python then I’d like to hear it so we can have an argument about it in my spare time.
From their beginnings in 1969 Monty Python made four series of Flying Circus, four films, several comedy records and toured live to great success. However following the death of Graham Chapman in 1989 they’ve never truly reunited to create new material or perform their classics. That is until now; late last year Monty Python announced they would be reuniting for one final show at London’s O2 Arena... then that show completely sold out in less than a minute so they added another nine dates. I, along with my brother, was fortunate enough to go see the five septuagenarians on the 19th July. To me it was almost a religious experience, a chance to see the men who changed the face of comedy forever and who can always bring a smile to my face at even the darkest of times. That they play both the Pope and the Spanish Inquisition only helps to prove that I’m not a loony and it actually was religious.
The show itself was something of a greatest hits spectacular, all the old favourites were on display, The Four Yorkshiremen, Vocational Guidance Counsellor, Nudge Nudge, Science Today, The Spanish Inquisition, Interesting Information About Llamas and a masterful melding of The Spam Cafe, Dead Parrot, Cheese Shop and The Missing Wallet and many others plus many of their best songs from over the years. What was really clear about the chosen material is that they weren’t doing it to appeal to anything other than what they wanted to do. There was a passion and love to the material that made it feel just as fresh as it was back in Flying Circus and it just made the night one of the funniest I’ve ever had in a theatre.
Each of the performers were clearly loving every second of being back up there; John Cleese burst into a fit of laughter before he even got the first line out and seemed to often be trying to make the others do the same. Terry Gilliam never ceased to look like the happiest man on earth every moment he was there amongst his friends performing. Eric Idle, who seems to have been much of a leading force behind the scenes, was obviously proud getting to perform his songs on such a large scale with dancers and choreography by Arlene Phillips. Terry Jones looked to be having a hard time remembering some of his longer lines, but never felt like he had lost any of his timing and comic expertise. Michael Palin looked utterly content to be back to that material and is probably the strongest performer of them all. Seeing Carol Cleveland with them was a wonderful sight, Graham Chapman was still hilarious in recordings and there was even a special video appearance by Professor Brian Cox and Stephen Hawking. Oh and Eddie Izzard showed up for about two lines, that was neat.
So yes, for a big Monty Python fan such as myself this night was exceptional. The jokes were still just as funny, the atmosphere was electric and I loved every second of it and am buying the DVD the second they release it. Right, this is getting silly now. I was meant to have a word limit and I’m well over, but for Python I think it can be permitted. And now for something completely different, a man with three buttocks.
From their beginnings in 1969 Monty Python made four series of Flying Circus, four films, several comedy records and toured live to great success. However following the death of Graham Chapman in 1989 they’ve never truly reunited to create new material or perform their classics. That is until now; late last year Monty Python announced they would be reuniting for one final show at London’s O2 Arena... then that show completely sold out in less than a minute so they added another nine dates. I, along with my brother, was fortunate enough to go see the five septuagenarians on the 19th July. To me it was almost a religious experience, a chance to see the men who changed the face of comedy forever and who can always bring a smile to my face at even the darkest of times. That they play both the Pope and the Spanish Inquisition only helps to prove that I’m not a loony and it actually was religious.
The show itself was something of a greatest hits spectacular, all the old favourites were on display, The Four Yorkshiremen, Vocational Guidance Counsellor, Nudge Nudge, Science Today, The Spanish Inquisition, Interesting Information About Llamas and a masterful melding of The Spam Cafe, Dead Parrot, Cheese Shop and The Missing Wallet and many others plus many of their best songs from over the years. What was really clear about the chosen material is that they weren’t doing it to appeal to anything other than what they wanted to do. There was a passion and love to the material that made it feel just as fresh as it was back in Flying Circus and it just made the night one of the funniest I’ve ever had in a theatre.
Each of the performers were clearly loving every second of being back up there; John Cleese burst into a fit of laughter before he even got the first line out and seemed to often be trying to make the others do the same. Terry Gilliam never ceased to look like the happiest man on earth every moment he was there amongst his friends performing. Eric Idle, who seems to have been much of a leading force behind the scenes, was obviously proud getting to perform his songs on such a large scale with dancers and choreography by Arlene Phillips. Terry Jones looked to be having a hard time remembering some of his longer lines, but never felt like he had lost any of his timing and comic expertise. Michael Palin looked utterly content to be back to that material and is probably the strongest performer of them all. Seeing Carol Cleveland with them was a wonderful sight, Graham Chapman was still hilarious in recordings and there was even a special video appearance by Professor Brian Cox and Stephen Hawking. Oh and Eddie Izzard showed up for about two lines, that was neat.
So yes, for a big Monty Python fan such as myself this night was exceptional. The jokes were still just as funny, the atmosphere was electric and I loved every second of it and am buying the DVD the second they release it. Right, this is getting silly now. I was meant to have a word limit and I’m well over, but for Python I think it can be permitted. And now for something completely different, a man with three buttocks.