Eric Idle will premiere new LIFE OF BRIAN musical in Toronto then Broadway?

[CapnHook]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 12:36pm

Forgive me if this is posted already:

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117959408.html?categoryid=15&cs=1

'Messiah' in Idle hands
'Spamalot' creator announces next project
By RICHARD OUZOUNIAN
Idle


'Life of Brian'

And now for something not so completely different.
Following on the heels of "Monty Python's Spamalot," Eric Idle has announced his next stage project will be "Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy)," a comic oratorio set to have its world premiere in Toronto in June as part of the city's inaugural Luminato Festival of the Arts.

Just as Tony-winning tuner "Spamalot" was based on the 1975 film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," Idle's new work is loosely adapted from the iconic British troupe's 1979 pic "Life of Brian." "Spamalot" co-composer John Du Prez again will collaborate with Idle.

The piece has been commissioned by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, whose music director, Peter Oundjian, is also Idle's cousin -- although the comedian insists that had nothing to do with his decision.

"Who would want to work with their relatives, anyway?" Idle said. "They're usually unpleasant, dishonest and slow to pick up the check."

The 63-year-old comic did allow that Oundjian may be an exception to the rule because "he's got a bit of class, which is something my family has always desperately needed."

Idle was unwilling to disclose details about the work other than to say, "I promise it will be funnier than Handel, although probably not as good."

One question, though, is whether it will include "Brian's" best-known tune: "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life," already part of "Spamalot."

Luminato is a new 90-event multidisciplinary arts fest scheduled to run throughout Toronto June 1-10. CEO is Janice Price, who ankled her job at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia to take over the fledging Canadian event.

Other high-profile names whose participation was announced Tuesday include Philip Glass, Leonard Cohen, Atom Egoyan and Isabel Bayrakdarian.

Organizers anticipate half a million people will attend the largely free events of this C$15 million ($13 million) festival, conceived to boost Toronto tourism.

"Spamalot" opened in March 2005 on Broadway, where it recently crossed the $100 million mark in grosses. The show has since spawned a national tour and a production in London's West End. A sit-down run in Las Vegas will start previews March 8 for a March 31 opening.

Updated On: 2/14/07 at 12:36 PM

[mallardo]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 12:44pm

It's an oratorio not a musical comedy.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 12:50pm

Whoops, just read the entire article.

Ah well.

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 1:13pm

Oh sweet Christ, someone stop this man.

[StephenSondheimWHOO]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 3:13pm

eh, don't see that working out to well. Esspecially since they can't use "always look on the bright side of life" again

[SweMozArt]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 4:51pm

It's the signature tune of that movie and the scene when they sing it is the most famous scene in the movie so they would be stupid not to use it. Perhaps they could start to sing it and then an actor in the audience would protest and say that he has heard that song in another musical. The guy on the cross would then explain that even the real messias of the musical world (ALW) reuses his tunes so it shouldn't be a big deal.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 5:05pm

Maybe it is because I was not a huge Spamalot fan...but I just wish he would stop bringing Monty Python to Bway...I say keep it over the pond.

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 6:39pm

How about leave it alone altogether? The other guys have all moved on. Only Idle never stops in his ceaseless quest for more money! more money! more money!

[Jon]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 7:29pm

Again folks - it's an ORATORIO - to be performed with a symphony orchestra on a concert stage with a large chorus. It is NOT a Broadway musical.

But then again, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING... started out as a 20-minute cantata for a school boy's chior.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 8:19pm

Loved the movie

As a musical ??????????????

[winston89]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 9:04pm

Speaking as a huge python fan I would see this before I judg it. Spamalot did start out in NYC before going to london. I am just suprised that he wouldn't start out his own shows in his own country. Also, I can easilly see them starting to break into bright side of life and have an " audience member" stop to bitch and moan about how they heard it in some other show and just turning it into a sketch prior to the song.


Kepp in mind that Monty Python is theatre it was just theatre done in front of the camera and now with spamalot its real theatre on stage where it belongs.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 12:16am

"Keep in mind that Monty Python is theatre it was just theatre done in front of the camera and now with spamalot its real theatre on stage where it belongs."

VERY true. Plus, there was a Monty Python show (if I'm not mistaking) on broadway waaaaaaaaaaaaaayyy before Spamalot.

http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=3216

It's not really Monty Python, but if it starred and was written by John Cleese and Graham Chapman, it might as well be.

And don't forget, Idle is doing the same thing that Mel Brooks is doing. Mel's about to open Young Frankenstein after the huge success of The Producers. Idle isn't even talking about bringing this to broadway.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 12:21am

that looks like it did great on bway.

[winston89]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 4:17am

I think that particular live python show was part of there monty python live tours. Those were essentally the sketches done on stage. I know that in a lot of the big cities they set up shop for a bit. And another popular venue in NYC for thse shows was town hall.

[leefowler]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 8:52am

If "Jerry Springer, The Musical" was too incendiary for Broadway, then this spoof of the Passion would be even more so.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 10:07am

C'mon folks...that dead horse ain't gonna beat itself.