Monty Python live at the O2 Arena

Monty Python
O2 Arena, 16 July 2014

Look I got to see the Pythons live! It was so much fun, I still can't stop smiling. 

I must admit when these reunion shows were announced I was highly cynical about the whole thing: I saw it as recycling old sketches for a big old cash-grab. But when I got a belated opportunity to go to this show suddenly my cynicism flew out the window and I jumped at the chance to see these comedy legends who I adored so much growing up. Even walking into the arena and seeing the big stage decked out in all its Victorian-style regalia and Terry Gilliam illustrations was a huge thrill and when the remaining Pythons took to the stage (arriving in a "Retardis" no less) wearing tuxedos and bowing for a cheering, excited crowd it was easy to get into the spirit of things and just be swept away by the fun.

I can't deny the show itself was pretty much old sketches recycled, albeit with some new bits and sometimes lots of adlibbing, but seeing them performed live by the original cast (aside from the late Graham Chapman, obviously, although he was represented through clips on the screens) with an audience of fellow fans made it all better than I ever imagined it could be. I guess it's similiar to seeing a band play your favourite songs live, nothing can really match that experience. And there was something about the show that felt quite rock n' roll. Yes, there were lots of songs, but also their edginess and attitude: it's funny how risque and raunchy some of the routines still are all these years on (although probably a lot less shocking than they were back in the early 1970s). 

The musical numbers were worthy of a top production West End musical (except with nuns and priests ripping their clothes off and the chorus line dancing to songs like Sit On My Face And Tell Me That You Love Me) and not surprisingly pretty much all were sung by Eric Idle, who really was great. I thought I would be most excited to see Michael Palin (always my favourite Python) and Terry Gilliam (one of my absolute idols as a film director) but strangely I had a lot of love for the whole bunch of them, from Terry Jones' funny little voice to Carol Cleveland's ditzy walk-on parts (nicely she was actually used in quite a few sketches) to John Cleese's moments where he either forgot the lines or couldn't stop himself from laughing (which was hugely contagious as you can imagine). 

There was everything from The Lumberjack Song to The Spanish Inquisition to, of course, The Parrot Sketch (Cleese and Palin's adlibs on this one made it especially funny) and it all ended on a huge singalong of Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life. They even brought on Simon Pegg as a surprise guest for one sketch (Blackmail to be exact), which was very cool and I'm sure was a huge thrill for him too. One criticism would be that they maybe over used the screens showing clips from the original series while changing the sets (we could easily watch those at home) but the second half was much better in that respect. It's a small thing really because the whole thing was done so well and I never thought I would feel so happy to see the four of them (or five if you include Cleveland) all there together again. 

Overall, it was funny, nostalgic and just a whole heap of fun, fun, fun. I can't believe I've seen the Pythons live. What an absolute treat.

Python's goodbye message to the crowd