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Lost Python Sketches Will See The Light
Beli writes: "According to this story over at BBC, 3 lost Monty Python sketches written by the late Graham Chapman have been found and are to be played this year at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Now if only John Cleese, Eric Idle and Co. would perform them. Apparently a comedy group called Sketch Club will have such honor."
For thoses now planning to go and are new to it. The fest is actually consists of around 7 festivals going on at the same time, everything from military performance, book festival, comedians, music, opera, etc.
The place is just packed with performances in every available building, from government offices to local churches. Most of the rooms are small places with just enough room for the performers and the small audiance.
Usally good shows, and during breaks between show you can tour Edinburgh.
Graham Chapman was - IS - a complete hero of mine. Not only did he write much of the Python material (in collaboration with Eric Idle and John Cleese), he starred in The Life of Brian and the Holy Grail films whilst suffereing from a chronic alcohol problem (multiple bottles of gin a day.) He was also one of the first celebrities to come out as gay, and helped found Gay News when sexual relationships between two consenting adults was still illegal in this country.
I strongly recommend his wonderful "A Liar's Autobiography" for a painfully candid (and very funny) story of his life.
"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." -- Goethe
The Fringe is hardly the sort of festival that would accommodate the comedic equivalent of the Backstreet Boys. It's more of a Sex Pistols sort of event (but without the spitting).
Of course it won't be the same as the origninal Python lads. I doubt that the Sketch Club themselves would make that claim. But let's face it: they Python sketches themselves, though impeccably written (4th series excepted), where often somewhat haphazard in their execution. I for one would love to see these new sketches performed by people who aren't - I hope they'll pardon the phrase - a bunch of old farts, however much an institution they are.
belbo
--
"Just believe everything I tell you, and it will all be very, very simple."
i would prefer the "lost" german episodes to be transferred to dvd. they were available on video for some time now (from guerilla-films.com) and they are hilarious (especially the first episode. it ist in german, even the guys didn't know german ;-).