Category Archives: Uncategorized

Post-Python Live

I didn’t have much of a chance to connect and blog while I was in London. Now that I’m home, I no longer have that excuse, so I can start writing about the Python Reunion.

And what a time it was for my son and me. The day we got in was a rare night off from the Python shows, and so we were invited to dinner by Terry Jones and his family. He escorted us from a nearby pub (past Terry Gilliam’s house) to his beautiful home in North London. Terry is the consummate host–and not a bad chef, either! He filled us in on how much fun they were having on stage, and there was real regret when he discussed the imminent end on Sunday night. He clearly would have loved to go on and on with the show, but was obviously enjoying the time remaining. 

We arrived at the O2 Arena Saturday evening with the trainloads of Python fans that were pouring in (“there’s a multitude out there!”). I reported to the Will Call window to collect my packet and ran into Andre Jacquemin, followed immediately by Ray Cooper, who was having trouble locating his tickets (fortunately Andre was able to help, and I saw Ray on the inside shortly after).

My first visit to the O2 did not disappoint. It’s a huge place, filled with restaurants and movie theatres as well as the huge arena that would be doing its best to contain the Pythons. We walked around a bit, past the giant dead parrot (where scores of people were queueing up for photos), and reported to the Green Room. There were surprisingly few people mingling around the room and at the bar less than an hour before the show. I said hello to Eddie Izzard, who clearly did not remember me (though to be fair, there’s really no reason that he should have, as I had only met him a couple of times prior to that). Helen Palin came through the room trying to locate some friends, we said hello briefly but she was clearly on a mission. 

MJ at O2
We took our seats in the massive O2 Arena, impressed at the scale of it all. This was a far cry from the City Center in New York, where I had first seen the group perform live in 1976. The stage and proscenium were huge. While I was close enough to see the group members on stage without the three giant screens, I figured I would need them to see the expressions on their faces during some of the more subtle moments. I saw some of the dedicated fans in the far reaches of the balconies, fully appreciating my own seats and and knew that these fans were hardcore enough to turn up even though they would have to watch most of the sketches on the large monitors overhead.
 
Terry J told me something a couple of nights before–something that the others would reiterate later–that I didn’t appreciate until the opening moments. “The audience is amazing,” he said. “They just lift us up when we’re performing.” As the lights dimmed, the opening clip rolled, and the guys stepped out onto the stage, I knew what he meant. The energy of the audience raised it all to the next level, and the Pythons basked in it despite themselves. It was a transcendent beginning to a show that kept up that energy throughout.
 
So many other people have written about the show itself–the running order, the performances, the production numbers and the video–that there isn’t much more I can add, other than a few impressions of my own. I thought the performances were incredible–I was tempted to say “for their age (they’re obviously all in the 70s),” but they were incredible for any age. I understand that some fans grumbled about the quantity of the video clips, but I thought they were fine. The production numbers were, I understand, divisive, with some audience members loving them, and others not very interested. The most enjoyable aspect of them for me was watching Eric take charge of the stage in a way that he hadn’t when he was younger. Of course, one of his finest moments was performing “The Galaxy Song,” without singers or dancers (except for a brief turn with Carol Cleveland).
 
It was great fun watching John and Terry J perform several sketches together. I hadn’t really thought of them working together a great deal during MPFC, but they seemed to be having great fun, despite (or maybe because) of Terry’s occasional lapses of memory. Of course, watching John and Michael work together had a wonderful, adventurous “anything can happen” feeling to it (and it usually did). And Terry Gilliam had some wonderful turns, including a featured role as Mr. Gumby and his always enjoyable moments in “Crunchy Frog.”
 
It’s hard to think of any negatives. The only thing I had a hard time with were a couple of moments when a pair of non-Python actors filled in for Graham in “Spanish Inquisition” and the second part of “Christmas in Heaven.” I really enjoyed seeing the other Pythons occasionally play one of Graham’s roles, and it would have been nice to see them continue that throughout. Otherwise, there were some wonderful Graham clips, and he was certainly remembered warmly by the Pythons and the audience.
 
More to come…

Eat Like a Python…

I’ll start posting about my London visit with the Pythons soon. In the meantime, click here for a little snack to tide you over…

Post Python

Finally had a chance to post after the Last Night of Python, but I’m swamped. In addition to much Python to write about, I need to write a tribute to Garry Goodrow, a founding member of the Committee. But I’ve just come back from a later dinner with Terry Jones, and my fingers aren’t operating as well as they might, so I’m going to have to delay comments until later into the weekend. In the meantime, I’m alive and well and having a terrific Pythonic time. More to follow.

Auntie Mame

As some of you may know, my friend-since-childhood Walt Willey (better known to some of you as Jackson Montgomery from ABC’s late, lamented All My Children) and I teamed up about six years ago. Our mission: to return community theatre to our home town of Ottawa, Illinois.
IMG_0486
We started with a production of The Odd Couple that was, to put it mildly, a rousing success, thanks to more people than I can mention. We followed that with a long line of theatrical classics, including Arsenic and Old Lace, Plaza Suite, Harvey, and Deathtrap, a big show every summer while we helped mentor local students interested in improvisation and theatrical acting. We sweetened the pot each summer by bringing in so many of Walt’s All My Children co-stars, including Jill Larsen, Julia Barr, Taylor Miller, Kale Brown, Bobbi Eakes, and Vincent Irrizary.
One of the drawbacks of going to London is that it means I won’t be able to do the summer show this year. Auntie Mame is going to be our biggest production yet, and if you are going to be anywhere within driving distance (or heck, within flying distance) of Ottawa, Illinois, I would strongly advise you to check it out July 25, 26, and 27. Tickets and more information are available through http://www.experienceottawa.com or simply by calling 815-434-2737.
Oh, and by the way, be sure to get there on time, as there is a virtual appearance by yours truly. Okay, so I am participating, even though I’ll be in London. But you’ll have to be there to see what I’m talking about.
And break a leg, Auntie Mame!

The Last Night of Monty Python

It’s hard to believe it’s finally here.

IMG_0907_2

When John Cleese told me about it last September, it seemed like a long way off. But this is it. Some of my friends think that if this is successful, it’s going to lead to a tour. Based on what I know (but can’t really talk about), I don’t think so. For one thing, this show is just too big to tour–and the individual Pythons are just too busy to do this again. So if you want to see it live, at least on the big screen, it’s now or never.

I’ll probably try to write a longer appreciation afterward, either after the show or after I get back to the States. And yes, I do know what a lucky bastard I am to have gotten to hang out with them all over the decades.

Goodbio iO

Time out from Python for more comedy.

io Old sign

This is the last week of the iO Theatre at its North Clark Street location, before it opens in August at its new-and-improved four-stages-no-waiting location by North Avenue and Clybourn.

It’s hard for me to be too pained by its passing (particularly because the new one is going to be so cool).

I already lost my first iO, though we called it the Improv Olympic back then, and I hardly even noticed at the time.

Crosscurrents Cabaret was just north of Belmont on Wilton, and that’s where it all started. When the Baron’s Barracudas wound up their run, I didn’t see as much of it for a while. But the iO has always wandered a bit, even when I was taking classes at Crosscurrents. It’s now been on North Clark for decades, where it has housed classrooms, stages featuring some of the best improvisation anywhere, and well as the earthly remains of Del Close. In recent years I’ve reconnected and begun teaching again, and I can see why so many are so sad to be losing it.

A few years back, I remember Dave Pasquesi pointing out a huge construction site on Wilton near Belmont. It was all gone, every scrap, and I was surprised at how little affected I was.

So I can only tell you this–I’ve lost the iO before, and it’s not about the location, it’s about the work. The iO always comes back bigger and better than before, and I have every confidence that this will be the case this time. Good work, Charna. See you at the new digs, Del.

Big Pythonic announcement

At last! Whether you’re going to the O2 this week, watching The Last Night of Python at one of the hundreds of theatres around the world, or simply aren’t near enough to do either, the perfect Python accessory is here at last.
KHJ-MP-ftio-Ebook
When I started writing Monty Python from the Inside Out, I began jotting down all sorts of interesting Python trivia, much of which I had forgotten about.
What’s the connection between Monty Python and Game of Thrones? Was Elvis Presley a Python fan? Who was the only Python to take acting lessons?
If you think you know everything there is to know about Monty Python, then wait till you read Monty Python from the Inside Out.
Monty Python from the Inside Out answers such questions as: Which Python was a Broadway star decades before Monty Python’s Spamalot? Which one was a physics major in college? Whose comedy career was due to a Royal Command? Who was an international journalist? Which one served in the Army? And who wrote the worst Python sketches?
And Monty Python from the Inside Out answers questions you didn’t even think to ask, such as: What was the most painful Python sketch to film? Which books inspired the most Python sketches? What sparked the biggest fight within the group?
And learn the facts behind the Python films as well. Was Holy Grail cursed? Who bought the world’s most expensive movie ticket? And what was the real-life inspiration for Mr. Creosote?
This undersized book at an undersized price is filled with stories about the time the Pythons and the Beatles nearly teamed up, who lobbied to be a member of Monty Python, and the connection between Monty Python and Charlie Chaplin.
As the Pythons celebrate their 45th anniversary with a farewell reunion show at London’s O2 Arena, there’s no better time to look back at lunacy, Python-style.
I think recent Python fans will find much they didn’t know about here, and even longtime fans will be surprised about a great deal of this. At any rate, it’s undersized and underpriced. If you’re going to be seeing the Pythons say goodbye this weekend, think of it as an Pythonic hors d’oeuvre to whet your e-appetite.
No hard sell. If you like Python, I think you’ll love this e-book. If you don’t–hey, what are you doing here in the first place??

Pythonic Posting…

My posting over the next week-and-a-half is going to be more erratic than usual. As I may have mentioned, I’m going off to London to see the Pythons.
I’ll be posting whenever possible, although I don’t know how much that will be–maybe a lot, maybe not all all. If it’s the latter, boy, am I gonna have a lot to write about when I get back here… #montypythonlive

Python tease…

Whether you’re going to be seeing the Python Reunion show this week or not, I’ve got an announcement that may enhance your appreciation of the current occupants of the O2 Arena. However, I can’t reveal it quite yet. Not that I don’t want to–but I can’t. As soon as I can announce it, I’ll explain why I couldn’t announce it sooner. But I’ve been working on it for a little while now, and it’s something that, for several reasons, I wanted to finish while the Pythons were still doing the show.
I hate to be a tease–believe me, I’m really excited, and I’d love to tell you now–but I have to wait. But soon. Very soon. #montypythonlive

John Cleese’s Next Gig..

…Is revealed here.

How are they ever going to fit him into one of those red swimsuits?#montypythonlive