Always Look on the Bright Side of Life

Oy, Monty Python fans! It's not too late to catch everyone's favorite member of the troupe, Eric Idle, as he performs with the Houston Symphony tonight and tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. in an "adaptation" of the classic religious spoof film, The Life of Brian.

The hugely-popular hour-long show, Not The Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy), kicks off its American tour in Houston. Here's a bragging point for you: Houston is one of only four cities on the tour, which runs through August, and one of the only two to get two nights of the performance!

Not The Messiah takes its name from the main plot point of the movie, in which an average Jewish man is repeatedly mistaken for Jesus, who was born in the manger next door. The show not only rehashes some of the finer scenes from The Life Of Brian, it also spoofs Handel's famous Messiah oratorio, several Monty Python sketches (from their long-running TV show, Monty Python's Flying Circus) and movies (such as "The Lumberjack Song" and "Oh, God You Are So Big" from The Meaning of Life) and even Bob Dylan. The show's musical styles change throughout, from classical to pop to hip-hop to Celtic, so even those of you with ADHD and/or without membership in the People's Front of Judea should remain entertained.

Idle, one of the five founding members of the groundbreaking British comedy troupe, reprises some of his roles from The Life of Brian, including the Lead Singer Crucifee as Not The Messiah wraps up with the classic, dark-humored, musical parody "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life." He also sings baritone(-ish) while accompanied by the Houston Symphony, their chorus and a bagpiper or two.

The Houston Symphony has been on a non-traditional roll lately, with Pink Floyd laser light shows and a performance with irreverant slacker Ben Folds among their latest un-classical offerings. Eric Idle and his crowded stage of musicians, opera singers, bagpipers and rumored singing sheep are a welcome addition to this roster and a great reason for you to hit Jones Hall and enjoy a night at the symphony. Tickets start at $35 for the mezzanine and run to $100 for the finest seats in the house, and can be purchased at the Jones Hall website.

Not The Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy)
July 17th and 18th, 7:30p.m.
Jones Hall
615 Louisiana
713.224.7575

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Photo courtesy of pythonline.com.