The cult of Python has long been a homegrown British mainstay, but it's peculiarities and often brilliant humor were also successfully embraced by world audiences. Now, the 40th anniversary of the comedy group sees member Eric Idle putting on a grand show in Royal Albert Hall of London - wait a minute, you say - has Python gone completely legit? Not quite, though this "baroque n' roll" oratorio may win over a few new fans.
So what can you expect from Not The Messiah (He's A Very Naughty Boy)? Well, the kind of put-upon stuffy grandeur that an appropriately classy environment can provide. Unlike the Broadway-bound Spamalot, Messiah gets a lot of its guffaws out of the fact that a very large orchestra, several renowned soloists and of course the Python crew are all engaging in cheeky humor in probably the most prestigious theatrical space in Britain.
Aside from the Python pros Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, and Idle himself as the multifaceted showrunner, the cast features William Ferguson as the hapless Brian, Shannon Mercer as his lover Judith, Rosalind Pillowright as Mandy and Christopher Purves as Reg. The soloists perform with much gusto, effectively mugging through some of the more outlandish pieces.
Featuring an overture and four parts, Messiah is a full-blown musical piece constantly jumping between styles, including a spot-on Bob Dylan parody piece "Individuals". Idle, who co-wrote the work with John Du Perez, is loosely faithful to the already-thin plot of The Life Of Brian, but has much more fun playing with the ideas behind the film. The piece "God You Are So Big" carries with it a devoutly tongue-in-cheek spiritual message about humanity's place in the universe. The show winds down with the inimitable "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life", which welcomes the audience to belt out the memorable lines.
In the end, the concert is a celebration of the Python clan and their output. If their humor doesn't tickle you in the right places, you're likely to find the show impressively mounted but dull. But for those who treasure time spent with these comic legends, Messiah offers a wealth of charming moments.
DVD Bonus Features
The disc features an array of features, opening with "The Road To Albert Hall", a thirty-minute look at the show's background and staging. "Showtime" goes behind the curtain at the show to find out how it's all done. Finally, "The Bright Side..." has Idle speak about penning one of hr best known Python jingles. Also included are 6 sing along videos.
"Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy)" is on sale June 8, 2010 and is not rated. Comedy, Concert-Film. Directed by Aubrey Powell. Written by Eric Idle & John Du Prez. Starring Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, Rosalind Pillowright, Shannon Mercer, Christopher Purves, William Ferguson.
