Never in my lifetime did I ever think I’d see a Monty Python sketch performed in person, let alone by John Cleese and Eric Idle no less. This was just a small part of the treat that was their Together Again At Last tour.
© The Ponder Room
The evening began with a video montage of old Monty Python skits which was a great way to cover them all off, and allow the presenters to concentrate on something other than regurgitating past catch phrases. They did however go back in time to present a couple of sketches including The Bookshop sketch, which duly received howls of laughter.
Sinking into comfy red chairs the evening took on a fireside chat as the pair went through the story of how they met, their early days at university and some pivotal moments at the BBC, which not only changed their lives but ours too. It was amazing to think about the likes of them all in their twenties working alongside the Two Ronnies, Marty Feldman and Spike Milligan amongst others. Oh to have been in the same room even for just ten minutes.
Eric Idle charmed the audience with his well known deceptively clever ditties including his personal favourite Galaxy song with its ‘expaaaaanding universe’ chorus.
Thanks to his great friendship with George Harrison we witnessed Harrison perform a very different rendition of My Sweet Lord, which was overrun by pirates. Something I’m not likely to forget in a long time.
© The Ponder Room
In one of several poignant moments amongst the laughter, Idle sang ‘Life Will Get You In The End’, which he said he started writing when Graham Chapman passed away and finished when he lost George Harrison. The audience listened on in stunned reverence.
Cleese’s generosity of spirit showed through as he took us on a Masterclass in Comedy, starting with the importance of staying in character, which Idle said Cleese was a master at.
A lesson followed in the difference between good comedy and ‘just being nasty’, which somehow seems incredibly timely. Cleese was at pains to point out that the Pythons ‘were never nasty’.
He went on to explain the link between anxiety (e.g. when you hear the start of a religious joke) and laughter. That when you laugh you release the pent up anxiety, ‘which creates an even bigger laugh’.
Lastly he put these theories into practice using a series of racial and religious jokes which, as taught, resulted in riotous laughter even the ones about Mexicans and heaven forbid Australians …
‘The most annoying thing about Australians is …. how ungrateful they are … we sent you here to this paradise … we even paid for your ticket and do we get any thanks?’
As expected the evening wasn’t complete without the odd reference to other Python members, particularly Michael Palin. This reached its peak during the questions from the audience section, where Idle asked Cleese to relay two stories about Cleese pranking Palin while he was on his Round the World trips. One involved Cleese calling Palin in the earlier hours of the morning posing as a Swedish journalist who was in the hotel foyer ready to do an interview. The subject matter for the interview … ‘the best comedian in the world … John Cleese’. The ‘journalist’ saying he wanted to speak to one of Cleese’s assistants.
After three standing ovations the evening ended with a wonderful tribute to Graham Chapman. Eric Idle leading the audience in a rousing rendition of Chapmans favourite song, and the number one song for British funerals, Always Look On the Bright Side Of Life. With these two legends infront of you how could you not.
On the way back to the car I pondered …
- How amazing that all these great comedians started out together, and most of them began as writers.
- No wonder we enjoyed shows like The Two Ronnies some of the writing was by Cleese and Co.
- If it hadn’t been for Cleese, Marty Feldman may well have stayed in the background as a talented writer. It was he who put Feldman in front of the camera. The bosses weren’t sure because of ‘how he looks’. Gives hope to writers everywhere.
- How many writers could pick up their work from thirty years ago and still enjoy it? Could you?
- Cleese’s edict of staying in character has meant that over the years we’ve rarely glimpsed the man behind the laughs. Consequently it was a pure delight to hear his loud, husky laugh, to watch him utterly enjoying himself, and why not, after all he’s made us all crack up for years. This image has completely taken the place of Basil Faulty, the silly walks, the Black Knight et al. It will be how I think of him now and will be bought out during tough times.
- My hope is they both realised how much the audience enjoyed the night. Our silence was not born from disapproval or boredom but from complete devotion. I’ve never seen an audience so completely spellbound and giving such respect to the performers on stage. Not a photograph was taken, nor a heckle made. We simply drank in every moment of what was an incredibly intimate show, especially when sitting near the front. It was brilliant night with dare I say it … no Palin required.
If it comes to a city near you make sure you go see it.