Monty Python is a British comedy group composed of Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin. Monty Python gained popularity in the UK and in the world for their television show Monty Python and The Flying Circus which aired on BBC from 1969 to 1974. Monty Python’s Flying Circus was also performed on stage as a play between 1974 and 1980. Because of Monty Python’s wide cultural influence, a couple of theatrical plays were also adapted from two of their most popular movies, The Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Monty Python's Life of Brian. These Monty Python-inspired plays are Monty Python's Spamalot (2004-2005) and Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy) (2007).
Monty Python released a movie Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl in 1982 but this show was actually a filmed performance of Monty Python’s Flying Circus play in 1980. There are a couple more recording of live performances which are Monty Python Live at Drury Lane (aka Monty Python Live at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane), released as their fifth album in 1974 and Monty Python Live at City Center, released in 1976. The Monty Python stage show has also been adapted in French in 2005 by a troupe headed by Remy Renoux.
Monty Python's Spamalot, a play inspired by The Monty Python and the Holy Grail was performed on stage from 2004 to 2005 in Broadway. The play has the tag line ‘A New musical lovingly ripped off from the motion picture The Monty Python and the Holy Grail’. The Broadway play was directed by Mike Nichols and won three Tony Awards, including Best Musical for the 2004-2005 season. The play’s book and lyrics was written by Monty Python member Eric Idle. Like the movie, the play consists of irreverent parodies of Arthurian legends. However, it also contained parodies of Broadway life. The play grossed over USD175 million.
Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy), a play adapted from Monty Python's Life of Brian was performed in 2007 in Toronto and in the US. Not the Messiah was also written in collaboration with John Du prez, by Monty Python member Idle. The oratorio was performed by a narrator, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, with guest soloists and choir. To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the original Monty Python television program, Idle, Palin, Jones and Gilliam appeared in a remount of the full, 90-minute version of Not the Messiah at the Royal Albert Hall on 23 October 2009.
Recording of Monty Python’s stage performances continue to be popular today. Two plays adapted and inspired from Monty python movies reflect the Monty Python’s lasting effect on popular culture.
