Monty Python Turns 40 & Reunites This Fall
Filed under: Fandom, Exhibition

Where has the time gone?
The Independent reports that Monty Python will celebrate their 40th anniversary this October. As part of the festivities, Royal Albert Hall will host a one-night-only performance on the 23rd of Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy). You may have heard of this -- it's Eric Idle and John Du Prez's wildly funny 1-hour oratorio based on Monty Python's Life of Brian. But this one-night-only deal is even more irresistible than usual -- Idle, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, and Terry Gilliam will perform in it. Unfortunately, John Cleese can't make it, which is a damned shame.
Nevertheless, here I thought that I was lucky that Idle's first cousin is Toronto Symphony Conductor Peter Oundjian, which led the world premiere to happen right in the T-Dot.
As Idle describes the oratorio: "It ranges in reference from Handel, through a naughty Mozart duet, to the Festival of Nine Carols, Bob Dylan, and the classic finale 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.'" (How could Dylan and Python possibly come together? You can see Idle's spin after the jump.)
For those of us who won't be there, The Independent reports that a documentary called Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut) is on the way, while Variety reports that there will be anniversary events in Hollywood and New York called "An Evening With Without Monty Python."
What's your favorite Monty moment?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-07-2009 @ 6:41PM
David said...
The performance of the "Dead Parrot Sketch" at one of the "Secret Policemen's Ball" events, where, at about a minute into the sketch that everyone knows by heart, Palin agrees and gives Cleese his money back. Blackout.
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7-08-2009 @ 7:16AM
Ralph said...
I do remember a retrospective on MP some twenty years ago, hosted by Steve Martin. At the end of the show, Steve, in the comfort of his home, asks, "Where are they now...?" and walks across the room. He says something like "well, they're right here", opens the wardrobe, and there they all are, huddled inside it, looking frightened and jumpy.
FWIW, it's mentioned on an Amazon review that it's part of the MONTY PYTHON LIVE DVD set.
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7-08-2009 @ 9:08AM
ML said...
Ooh ... favorite? I don't think I could come up with a favorite. The Spanish Inquisition, Ministry of Silly Walks, Lumberjack routine, and (somehow) spam springs immediately to mind, though.
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7-08-2009 @ 9:11AM
ML said...
Oh, yes, and I should mention, my husband and I rarely quote movies, but one of the few quotes we do use is "Not dead yet." You'd be surprised how useful (and funny) that one can be.
7-08-2009 @ 11:01AM
Justin shaw said...
My favourite has to be th ministry of silly walks. I started doing one of the walks at work and I got some odd looks. But those who knew war I was doing were laughing hard
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