Not the Messiah Tagged Articles at Cinematical
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?
Always Look on the Bright Side of Profit
Filed under: Classics », Comedy », Music & Musicals », Remakes and Sequels »
You know how Eric Idle once got it into his head that a big lavish musical version of Monty Python and the Holy Grail would be an awesome idea? And how the thing turned into a huge success that left patrons, critics and soundtrack producers clapping their hands in giddy pleasure? Well, guess what?Life of Brian looks to be the next Python classic that's destined for the stage. EW.com's Scott Brown explains numerous things, including what the play will be called (Not the Messiah), why the thing is opening in Toronto instead of New York (religious kooks), and what exactly an "oratorio" is, information that I found pretty helpful.
Having not yet seen the Grail-inspired Spamalot, which I hear is pretty damn hilarious, I haven't much else to add on this story. But Life of Brian is absolutely one of the finest satires I've ever seen, so here's hoping Idle's new version retains that same sense of venomous playfulness. And let me know when the underrated The Meaning of Life becomes a big expensive "oratorio." It's already got that amazingly fun "Every Sperm is Sacred" number.
P.S. How is it that Spamalot: The Movie is not already in production??









