Monty Python’s John Cleese brings ‘Holy Grail’ to Tampa
He’s been a member of perhaps the most famous comedy troupe the world has known, the co-creator of two legendary television series and some of the funniest movies ever made.
But John Cleese said he’s never enjoyed doing a show more than the one he’s touring the country with right now, the show he’ll be bringing to the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa on Thursday.
Cleese will be on hand for a screening of “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” the 1975 film that most fans consider the funniest film that Cleese and his erstwhile Monty Python compatriots created. After the screening, he talks about the film and takes questions from the audience.
“You never know what people are going to ask,” Cleese said in a phone interview. “The other night someone asked, ‘If you could turn any one of the Pythons into a dessert, who would it be and what dessert would you turn him into?’ ”
The bulk of the questions may be along those lines. The audience is advised that “Only absurd and/or ridiculous questions are requested, please.” But a substantial question or two about the film, about “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” or “Monty Python’s Life of Brian,” or about Cleese’s own sitcom “Fawlty Towers” probably will find their way into the mix.
The other night someone asked, ‘If you could turn any one of the Pythons into a dessert, who would it be and what dessert would you turn him into?’
John Cleese
Python’s comedy has found an audience that is unlike any other in comedy, Cleese said. When Monty Python, or any subset of Python members, perform in concert, the audience demands to hear bits they know. They speak the words along with the performers and react negatively the if the performers depart from the known scripts. And they still laugh at the material they’ve heard a million times.
And when Cleese meets fans, they often quote Python lines to him, or at least try.
“They either get the line wrong or they quote some line that you don’t have any recollection of at all,” Cleese said. “And all you can do is say ‘Ah, yes, yes, that was a good one,’ and walk away.”
I used to think that comedians were frivolous. Now I think they’re essential.
John Cleese
Cleese said that for this tour he’s edited a new ending onto the film, because he considers the original ending the film’s weakest aspect.
He celebrated his 78th birthday on Friday, and besides revisiting the 42-year-old “Holy Grail” he seems to have re-evaluated his entire career, finding a previously undiscovered value in all the silliness that he has wrought.
“I used to think that comedians were frivolous,” he said. “Now I think they’re essential. If you can make someone’s life happier for one moment, if you can make them laugh and make them forget about everything else, even for that moment, that’s important.”
Details: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2, Morsani Hall at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa. $55, $80, $90 and $111 plus service charge. 813-229-7827, strazcenter.org.
Marty Clear: 941-708-7919, @martinclear
This story was originally published October 27, 2017 at 5:00 PM with the headline "Monty Python’s John Cleese brings ‘Holy Grail’ to Tampa."