On Sunday, 20th July at 7pm the Rich Mix Cinema will screen live from the 02 Arena the final night of the highly reviewed, totally sold out Monty Python reunion tour performed by Michael Palin, Terry Jones, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam and Eric Idle, who reunite for Monty Python Live (mostly).
The men known as Monty Python rightfully hold a place amongst the world’s finest ever comedians, influencing a generation and revolutionising comedy on their way to greatness. The name is a reference to Monty Python’s Flying Circus, a TV comedy sketch show which was broadcast by the BBC from 1969 to 1974. The troupe also made films in the 1970s and in recent years the stage musical Spamalot has revived interest in the group. The comedy in the original TV sketch show was avant garde and didn’t always work, but the programme soon achieved cult status and was highly influential on 1970s and 80s comedy – as well as spawning a range of catch phrases which have remained well known and instantly recognisable.
There was huge demand for tickets for the performances at the O2 on stage by the stars of Monty Python. These shows are the first time the group has appeared on stage since performing at the Hollywood Bowl on 15th September 1980 – and they come 40 years after they last appeared on stage in the UK (at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane). At a combined age of 357, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin will once again take to the stage and perform some of Monty Python’s greatest hits with modern, topical, Pythonesque twists.
In a recent interview with The Telegraph, John Cleese said about the £4.5m production: “The opening number is quite energetic. We leap around and it sets the standard. I’m quite worn out after the first number. We’ve got Mick Jagger as an example and we can still move fast around the stage…”
For many people who were unable to obtain tickets, the live screening at the Rich Mix Cinema will enable the Shoreditch cinema’s audiences join the crowd at the 02 in a final weepy, hilarious, uproarious, outrageous farewell to the five remaining Pythons as they head for The Old Jokes Home.
This will be an historic occasion – the last night in a ten night season for the Pythons at London’s 23,000 capacity 02 and a chance for fans to say farewell to the five surviving members of this monumentally influential comedy team on this last, historic and special night.
Reviews of the Monty Python show
“Monty Python’s live reunion is side-splitting ‘comedy history in the making” Express
“They arrived to a prolonged roar of grateful applause – emerging from a police-box (the “retardis”) and they departed on the heels of a standing ovation, after a mass singalong of that national anthem, Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.” Telegraph
“With so many well known gags It’s the comedy equivalent of seeing the Beatles play a greatest hits gig” Mirror
Sunday July 20th at 7pm: Monty Python Live (mostly) £16.50, £14.50 members, £13.50 concessions Cinema screening at the Rich Mix Cinema, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA Tickets www.richmix.org.uk/whats-on/event/monty-python-live-mostly/ 020-7613 7498 www.montypythonlive.com www.richmix.org.uk/
Twitter: @richmixlondon