Monty Python live (mostly), review: poignant and predictable, but tremendous fun

Telegraph UK ^ | 20 Jul 2014 | Ed Power

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Watching the livestream of Monty Python's last ever performance on GOLD, it was impossible not to experience a tingle of sadness.

So this was it, the final performance by the most influential comedy troupe of all time. Forty-odd years since Monty Python's Flying Circus revolutionized television humour and unleashed a legion of surreal catchphrases John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones and Michael Palin departed the stage at London's O2 Arena to the strains of their darkly hilarious (or is it hilariously dark?) anthem Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life.

Watching the swan-song was a 15,000 live audience, with many more viewing via cinema simulcasts across the globe and on the digital television channel Gold (aka the station where it feels an Only Fools And Horses repeat is just an ad break away). The Python special had been heartily hyped by Gold, which went so far as to install a fifty foot-long expired tropical bird in central London, in reference to Python's much loved Dead Parrot sketch.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Had a great time except for a 20 minute satellite outage at the beginning due to local weather. Theater was only 1/3 full at most. Crowd was fun. I don't know what it says about me as I know tons of people, it was the only showing in the area, and I knew nobody.

[Focault's Pendulum]

Did they drop Graham Chapman’s ashes again?

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

No.

[Focault's Pendulum]

I saw it when they did that on stage. It was a strangely humorous tribute.

minute 9:13

[Dr. Ursus]

I’m not dead ,yet. I’m getin’ better!

[FlJoePa]

Growing up - every Sunday night was reserved for Monty Python’s Flying Circus and Dad’s Army. Nothing funnier then, and nothing funnier now.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

I’ve seen most everything Python. At the end of today’s show, David Rappaport was on stage with the cast. He wasn’t in any sketches. Many remember him from “Time Bandits.” I always liked the intro John Cleese gave him in “The Secret Policeman’s Ball.” “Not the smallest man in the world… but f’ng close.”

[dfwgator]

Seeing the Pythons without Graham is like seeing the Beatles without John.

[DemforBush]

One of my earliest tv memories was staying up late with my older brothers on the weekends and watching Monty Python. I’m sure at least half of it flew right over my head, but I caught enough that I would be doubled over with laughter most of the time.

I also liked Benny Hill and Dave Allen At Large, though I didn’t “get” Allen at all until I was a bit older. Also remember another comedy show on around the same time as Python called The Goodies. Much more slapstick and juvenile compared to MP IIRC, but I still laughed.

[Starstruck]

At the end of today’s show, David Rappaport was on stage with the cast.

Thought he died?

[Tanniker Smith]

That was always the reason Cleese gave (or something similar) for why there would never be a reunion. They might work together on projects, but they didn’t think that they could do a Monty Python reunion. (That was then, of course.)

[dfwgator]

Dave Allen At Large was great. Usually it came on after Benny Hill.....Good times.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

I was wrong. He did die. Have to search to find out who the little person was on stage with them. Had to be somebody important to the Pythons.

[Mad Dawgg]

"Seeing the Pythons without Graham is like seeing the Beatles without John."

True but I bet Graham is smiling when he sees the name of the show. “Monty Python Live (Mostly) One Down, Five to Go" that is sooo Python! It makes me giggle each time I read it!

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Here’s a sampling of what we saw today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBcYuwlWFRM

They ran some of Graham’s performances from the original show.

[melsec]

“One of my earliest tv memories was staying up late with my older brothers on the weekends and watching Monty Python....

I also liked Benny Hill and Dave Allen At Large, though I didn’t “get” Allen at all until I was a bit older. Also... The Goodies.”

You just described my greatest TV childhood memories!

[dfwgator]

All I can say after watching that is, What a drag it is getting old.

[RichInOC]

I thought they should have done a fifty-foot-long dead Graham.

[a fool in paradise]

One theater sold out well in advance (I learned of it last week and bought tickets online from a second theater, different chain). The theater took awhile to fill up but by showtime it was mostly sold.

There seemed to be some sound jitter (brief snips pausing) during the pre-show and even the opening fanfare but by the time their performance began, things were good.

Also, only the front channel sound was on (fairly low) in the theater. Diminished the power of the songs/music and would’ve had me straining even more to hear the dialogue if I’d been seated any farther back (I was at the front third mark).

[a fool in paradise]

Starting with a half hour behind-the-scenes broadcast presented by stand-up Dara Ó Briain, Gold's coverage was brash and boisterous. Emanating turbo-charged avuncularity, O Briain chinwagged with actor Martin Freeman and comedian Eddie Izzard (he'd already seen the comeback six times). It was a nice appetizer though things got a bit farcical as comic after comic squeezed alongside Ó Briain, vying to sing their Python praises in the heaving VIP Lounge.

I did NOT get this pre-show, by the way.