New Python musical branded 'blasphemous' [Eric Idle's "Not The Messiah (He's A Very Naughty Boy)"]

ICWales.co.uk ^ | Feb 16 2007 | Tryst Williams

[Alex Murphy]

CHRISTIANS in Wales have reacted angrily to plans to turn controversial comedy Life of Brian into a musical.

It is nearly 30 years since the Monty Python film, satirising the life of a man mistaken for Jesus, provoked condemnation from church and chapel congregations around the world who claimed it was blasphemous. A ban on screening it in Swansea cinemas stood for 17 years and was only lifted in 1997.

But yesterday campaigners vowed to hold fresh protests should the proposed new musical ever be staged in Wales or the UK.

Their ire came as it emerged founding Monty Python member Eric Idle has written a "comic oratorio" called Not The Messiah (He's A Very Naughty Boy), which will premiere in Toronto in June.

The 63-year-old said, "I promise it will be funnier than Handel, although probably not as good."

Although no plans to tour have emerged as yet, Idle has already gained international success and critical acclaim with Spamalot, the musical version of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Stephen Green, Carmarthenshire-based head of pressure group Christian Voice, last night vowed to keep Not the Messiah out of the UK. Mr Green, who led mass protests against Jerry Springer: The Opera, said, "We would certainly be opposing such a blasphemous and scurrilous piece of work. With it being loosely hung around Handel's masterwork, it has got to be offensive to anyone who values music as means of expressing great ideas."

He added, "If he brings that to Britain or Wales he can expect protests. He might not even get it off the ground here because we've been forearmed."

The film became one of the most controversial movies of its era for its satirical portrayal of a man repeatedly mistaken for the Messiah 2,000 years ago. At the end of the film he is crucified by the Romans, whereupon he launches into the cheery musical number Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.

The film-makers said they never set out to satirise Christ, but claimed to poke fun at religion itself.

Swansea City Council gained its own notoriety in the 1980s and 1990s for imposing the world's longest-running ban on the film. One councillor said its ridiculing of Christianity made him "physically sick".

Richard Lewis, an independent councillor serving the Gower area, was one of those who voted to impose the ban back in February 1980. The council no longer has such a power - but if it did, Mr Lewis said he would vote to ban the new musical from Swansea, and would also be prepared to demonstrate against it.

Mr Lewis, a Christian who converted to Catholicism in sympathy with that church's staunch views on homosexuality, said, "We were right as a city council to ban Life of Brian. My views have hardened very much. I feel this latest musical is part of a continual drip feed of knocking religion and Christianity

."

At the time of the original ban, Colwyn Bay-born Python Terry Jones, who directed the film, said it was "excellent publicity", a point that was reiterated by Western Mail film critic Gary Slaymaker in relation to the new musical.

He said, "Life of Brian is a great comedy film and the ones protesting have got the wrong end of the stick - as they usually do. There are so many other things in the world to get het up about. The more fuss they create the more free publicity this musical gets."

But he added, "I'm not sure it's that great an idea. They've already taken one of the most memorable songs - Always Look on the Bright Side of Life - and put it in Spamalot, so it does have the feeling of flogging dead horses."

Life of Brian's Welsh connections

The Biblical spoof, which gained worldwide notoriety on its release in 1979, was directed by Welshman Terry Jones.

Colwyn Bay-born Jones, along with his fellow Monty Python team members - Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, and Terry Gilliam - also wrote and starred in the film. It was made only when former Beatle George Harrison agreed to finance the film when original backers EMI pulled out at the 11th hour.

A pair of Welsh actresses also had a hand in the production, with Fishguard actress Sue Jones-Davies playing Judith - Brian's lover - in a broad Welsh accent. At one point the henpecked Brian is told by his mother to "leave that Welsh tart alone".

Meanwhile Gwen Taylor, known to TV viewers for her role in South Wales Valleys drama Belonging, had a role as the memorably-named Mrs Big Nose.

But the most lasting Welsh connection was arguably the long-standing decision by Swansea City Council to ban any cinema in the city from screening the film.

The decision, which was in line with similar moves by councils such as Blaenau Gwent and the now defunct Taff-Ely, stood until 1997. It was eventually rescinded to allow a screening in aid of Comic Relief.

On hearing that Swansea had finally lifted its 17-year ban, Eric Idle is reputed to have ironically told reporters, "What a shame. Is nothing sacred?"

[Enosh]

Some things in life are bad
They can really make you mad
Other things just make you swear and curse.
When you're chewing on life's gristle
Don't grumble, give a whistle
And this'll help things turn out for the best...

    And...always look on the bright side of life...
    Always look on the light side of life... 

If life seems jolly rotten
There's something you've forgotten
And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing.
When you're feeling in the dumps
Don't be silly chumps
Just purse your lips and whistle - that's the thing.

    And...always look on the bright side of life...
    Always look on the light side of life... 

For life is quite absurd
And death's the final word
You must always face the curtain with a bow.
Forget about your sin - give the audience a grin
Enjoy it - it's your last chance anyhow.

    So always look on the bright side of death
    Just before you draw your terminal breath 

Life's a piece of s---
When you look at it
Life's a laugh and death's a joke, it's true.
You'll see it's all a show
Keep 'em laughing as you go
Just remember that the last laugh is on you.

    And always look on the bright side of life...
    Always look on the right side of life...
    (Come on guys, cheer up!)
    Always look on the bright side of life...
    Always look on the bright side of life...
    (Worse things happen at sea, you know.)
    Always look on the bright side of life...
    (I mean - what have you got to lose?)
    (You know, you come from nothing - you're going back to nothing.
    What have you lost? Nothing!)
    Always look on the right side of life...

[redgolum]

I watched that movie once, and have to admit there were parts that were funny. Much like the movie Dogma.

[highlander_UW]

I dare him to write a musical satire on the life of Muhammad and his followers and advocate taking that show on the road.

[highball]

Anyone who's actually seen the film knows that Jesus himself comes off very well in it.

[Dinsdale]

IIRC the only words ascribed to Jesus in the movie that weren't in the Bible were 'You just can't please some people'. (What Jesus told the ex-leper when he asked for 'something begable').

[Yo-Yo]

Ex-leper: Spare a talent for an old ex-leper?

Brian: Did you say... "ex-leper"?

Ex-leper: That's right, sir. Sixteen years behind the bell, and proud of it, sir.

Brian: Well, what happened?

Ex-leper: Oh cured, sir.

Brian: Cured?

Ex-leper: Yes, sir. A bloody miracle, sir. God bless you.

Brian: Who cured you?

Ex-leper: Jesus did, sir. I was hopping along, minding my own business. All of a sudden, up he comes. Cures me. One minute I'm a leper with a trade, next minute my livelihood's gone. Not so much as a by-your-leave! "You're cured, mate." Bloody do-gooder.

Brian: Well, why don't you go and tell him you want to be a leper again?

Ex-leper: Ah, yeah. I could do that, sir. Yeah. Yeah, I could do that, I suppose. What I was thinking was, I was going to ask him if he could make me a bit lame in one leg during the middle of the week. You know, something beggable, but not leprosy, which is a pain in the arse, to be blunt. Excuse my French, sir.

Mandy: Brian! Come in 'ere and clean your room!

Brian: Alright [drops a coin in ex-leper's cup]]

Ex-Leper: Thank you, sir, thank y - half a denarii?! For me bloody life story?

Brian: [drops another coin in ex-leper's cup]] There's no pleasing some people.

Ex-Leper: That's just what Jesus said, sir!

[youngjim]

I love this movie, typical Python iconoclasm. When you watch it you'll notice a lot of silliness in the background. I remember a scene set in the Rooman Coluseum. A few conspirators are conspiring and below in the arena a skinny Christian has been set out for execution. Out comes the huge gladiator and the Christian starts running around the arena with the heavily armed gladiator chasing him. The gladiator has a heart attack and dies. The Christian sets his foot on him in triumph while the crowd cheers.


Spectator I: I think it was "Blessed are the cheesemakers".
Mrs. Gregory: Aha, what's so special about the cheesemakers?
Gregory: Well, obviously it's not meant to be taken literally; it refers to any manufacturers of dairy products.

[Richard Kimball]

Graham Chapman, who played Brian in the movie, died at age 49. John Clees, at his funeral, called him a "freeloading b@stard" and said, "I hope he fries!" Part of the music was "Always look on the bright side of life." In short, his funeral was a Monty Python skit.

I watched a little of Life of Brian, but it's too much for me. I also, as much as I love South Park, can't watch some of the episodes like "Bloody Mary." I wouldn't protest them, but I can't watch that type of humor.