Monty Python Live (mostly)

There are few groups of comedians quite as revered as Monty Python. From their first sketch through to their final film, they’ve broken boundaries culturally and comedically, inspiring generations of fans and imitators.

When they announced a run of shows at the O2, there was a lot of debate over the nature of the show – how could five septuagenarians maintain the high standards and physicality of their hey day? With such busy individual schedules, how could they curate enough material for a full live show? The biggest question was also the once asked quietest… would it actually be any good?

What’s resulted from this is Monty Python Live (mostly), both a farewell to the group and a last hurrah. It’s a show that celebrates their legacy rather than looking to extend it, and one that relies on the good will of those watching it to be fully enjoyed.

The love of Python was evident amongst the crowd, with a dedication to costume that can only be described as impractical in the sweltering heat outside. One man wore a full suit complete with bowler hat and umbrella, from the waist up, and not a lot else. I can only assume his briefs were a concession to the baking sun.

With a seat near the back, I was expecting to rely heavily on the giant screens I imagined to be surrounding the stage. The screens were there, but the arena seemed much smaller than last time I paid a visit to the O2 – it was quite nice to be able to be close enough to actually see the people on stage, especially given the price of the tickets.

The show itself comprised of live sketches, with a hearty dose of screened content to help with the costume changes, as well as a number of giant dance routines to add a little physicality to the mix.

The delivery is, perhaps, slower than usual. It hardly matters. The crowd lap up every punchline, song and appearance with unlimited enthusiasm. During Eric Idle’s frequent musical numbers the lyrics appear on screen to encourage the audience to shout and sing along as frequently as possible.

The wildest applause occurs, as you may expect, during the iconic dead parrot sketch, which after riffing off a bunch of other classic sketches, including the cheese sketch, collapses during an adlibbed section. Michael Palin and John Cleese playfully rib each other over their failure to produce a fitting punchline to the set. The crowd go ballistic, in on the joke from the very start.

After the celebrity appearances, cock cannons and exploding parrots, the show finishes with a giant sing song of Always Look on the Bright Side of Life. The backdrop pays tribute to Graham Chapman, and then Monty Python: 1969 – 2014. This is the final farewell to the much loved gang, and this greatest hits set provides for an emotional goodbye.

Monty Python Live (mostly) is playing on selected dates until Sunday 20 July at:

O2 Arena
Peninsula Square
Greenwich
SE10 0DX

Photo: Dave J Hogan / Getty Images