Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy)
Celebrating 40 Years of Monty Python
In 1979, Monty Python's Life of Brian turned the Biblical epic on its head. Now, the makers of Spamalot turn classical music on its ear! Prepare for Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy) - the comedic masterpiece that combines all the unforgettable humour of the Python's most celebrated film with the overblown grandeur of a symphony orchestra. Don't miss your chance to share the one-night-only performance featuring a rare on-stage reunion of Python troupe members Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam.
Member Reviews
Great fun! - Julia_R
I thought I would post this to give a different point of view from the previous reviewer.
If you enjoy classical music, and you are a Monty Python fan, then I think you would enjoy this DVD. As the previous reviewer points out, this may be a fairly small population.
“Not the Messiah” is performed as an oratorio, which is essentially a musical, but the singers do not move around much. They mostly stay in one place and there are few costumes and no sets. Probably the most famous oratorio is Handel’s “Messiah”, hence the pun in the title, “Not the Messiah”. (This of course, also refers to Brian, who insists he is not the Messiah.) Part of the joke is to hear Monty Python’s comic songs performed in such a serious setting.
The DVD was shot at the Royal Albert Hall with (if I remember correctly) a 100 piece orchestra, a 150 voice choir and 5 soloists, many of whom came from opera or other classical backgrounds. The incomparable Eric Idle is one of the soloists. Other Monty Python alumni make appearances during the performance.
The music tells the story of the “Life of Brian”. Much of the music has been newly composed by John Du Prez, but Monte Python favourites pop up, including “The Lumberjack Song”, complete with Mounties, and of course, “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.” There are even sing-along versions of some songs included in the special features.
I thoroughly enjoyed the performance. The singers, the orchestra and the choir were wonderful, and somehow, the Monty Python actors’ voices fit in very well. (Sometimes, combining classically trained voices with other singers is not a happy experiment. Fortunately, this is not the case here.) A must-see for all the Monty Python/oratorio fans out there.Don't Do It!! - owaincolin
I am a huge Monty Python fan and this was such a disappointment. If you know it's OPERA, then go for it. If you think it's funny, classic Monty Python, you're wrong. My best advice is to skip the first 13 chapters which will take you to Eric Idle singing an awesome version of "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" and then Michael Palin stealing the show with the "Lumberjack Song". The rest is painful. An ill conceived idea which reeks of a money grab and has nothing to do with Monty Python. No surprise John Cleese had NOTHING to do with this disaster.
Member Reviews
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Great fun! - Julia_R
I thought I would post this to give a different point of view from the previous reviewer.
If you enjoy classical music, and you are a Monty Python fan, then I think you would enjoy this DVD. As the previous reviewer points out, this may be a fairly ...Don't Do It!! - owaincolin
I am a huge Monty Python fan and this was such a disappointment. If you know it's OPERA, then go for it. If you think it's funny, classic Monty Python, you're wrong. My best advice is to skip the first 13 chapters which will take you to Eric Idle singing ...