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Monty Python's Holy Grail goes Broadway

Sixyphe writes "First sighted on Yahoo News, it would seem that Eric Idle of Monty Python fame is working on a Broadway musical adaptation of everybody's favorite source of accurate medieval data, Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The goal is 2005, and the working title is Spamelot (and not Spamalot, contrary to what an AP wire claims). And as a bonus to all you North-American Python fans, Eric Idle is soon to be touring in Canada and the US."

41 of 313 comments (clear)

  1. Ni! by LurkerXXX · · Score: 5, Funny
    And we shall decorate the set with shrubbery.

    One over there, an another over there...

  2. Subtlety, Monty Python ain't got it. by Dancin_Santa · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I think this is the main reason Americans really take to the Monty Python troupe. Rather than the normal subdued humor that is the hallmark of European humor (except for that weird shouting humor of Germany), Monty Python takes absurd scenes and works them over the top. In American culture the bigger, louder, more powerful, and more blatant something is, the better.

    How popular is MP in Europe?

    1. Re:Subtlety, Monty Python ain't got it. by Bob+The+Lizard · · Score: 5, Funny

      How popular is MP in Europe?

      I don'y know about Europe, but most MPs arn't very popular in NZ. :-)

    2. Re:Subtlety, Monty Python ain't got it. by kaan · · Score: 5, Funny

      Shut up! Shut up, you American! You always talk, you Americans, you talk and you talk and you say, "Let me tell ya something...", and "I've just gotta say this..."

      modding instructions:
      if you laughed, mod up
      if you did not laugh, get off the computer and go watch The Meaning of Life

    3. Re:Subtlety, Monty Python ain't got it. by Monkelectric · · Score: 4, Insightful
      americans are all stupid, blah blah ...

      What you see on the TV isn't *really* what americans like. It's what bullshit TV execs think americans like. I've enjoyed the hell out of british shows like, sharp's rifles, mr bean/black adder/thin blue line, danger uxb, all creatures great and small, yes minister ... etc. I think given a chance american audiences would rise to the task and appreciate more sophisticated humor ... if given a chance, that is...

      --

      Religion is a gateway psychosis. -- Dave Foley

    4. Re:Subtlety, Monty Python ain't got it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Do you mean subdued as in "Bennie Hill"? Or perhaps the subtle reparte that we see in "Are You Being Served"?

      Just asking.

    5. Re:Subtlety, Monty Python ain't got it. by Aussie · · Score: 4, Interesting
      Actually, MP was known to make their jokes less subtle for the US audiences.

      eg: "Do you want to come upstairs ?" becomes "Do you want a blowjob ?" in the US version of the travel agent sketch.

    6. Re:Subtlety, Monty Python ain't got it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Probably more like Fawlty Towers.

    7. Re:Subtlety, Monty Python ain't got it. by ncc74656 · · Score: 4, Funny
      Americans are not a race.

      Yeah, they're a disease.

      Go away, or I shall taunt you a sec...oh wait, that's obviously your line.

      Schmuck.

      --
      20 January 2017: the End of an Error.
    8. Re:Subtlety, Monty Python ain't got it. by corbettw · · Score: 4, Funny

      When you want to put down Americans and their TV watching, just remember: it wasn't America who made "Baywatch" the most watched show on the planet.

      --
      God invented whiskey so the Irish would not rule the world.
  3. I just hope by the_other_one · · Score: 5, Funny

    I just hope that they eat Sr. Robin's minstrels early.

    --
    134340: I am not a number. I am a free planet!
  4. Oh no, oh no, oh, no. by JasonUCF · · Score: 5, Insightful

    EVERYTHING DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A MUSICAL!

    Oh lord, when will it end. Please. Monty Python has created some of the most hysterical movies I have ever seen. Their skit/sketch comedy was genius. Yes, they sometimes had musical bits.

    But *ONE MEMBER* reworking Holy Grail?

    Sorry, I can't be a fanboy. All I can think is.
    'Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oo'

    1. Re:Oh no, oh no, oh, no. by xybe · · Score: 5, Funny

      You mean: Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiii

    2. Re:Oh no, oh no, oh, no. by niko9 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      EVERYTHING DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A MUSICAL!

      Oh lord, when will it end. Please. Monty Python has created some of the most hysterical movies I have ever seen. Their skit/sketch comedy was genius. Yes, they sometimes had musical bits.

      But *ONE MEMBER* reworking Holy Grail?

      Sorry, I can't be a fanboy. All I can think is.
      'Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oo'


      Relaaaax, in through the nose, out through the mouth. The carpal pedal spasms will go away in a few minutes.

      Not everything is a musical.

      I gather you haven't seen The Producers on Broadway, have you? There was no Wilder or Mostel, but it was the most fun I have had in a loooooong time.

      It's just a musical.

  5. Whatever you do... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Whatever you do do not eat the free 'Crunchy Frog' candy they give you at the entrance.

    1. Re:Whatever you do... by the_other_one · · Score: 3, Funny

      The Crunchy frog is ok if you are not a vegan.
      Watch out for the Spring Surprise though.

      --
      134340: I am not a number. I am a free planet!
  6. Re:cool by Pharmboy · · Score: 4, Funny

    Seriously though , why does this meret a slashdot posting?

    Its Monte Python, for god's sake! Thats why! :D I mean, even the term "spam" is purely attributed to Monte Python. Its a nerd thing.

    I would say "You must be new here" but I don't need the karma.

    --
    Tequila: It's not just for breakfast anymore!
  7. Critics Agree by michaelnz · · Score: 5, Funny

    "A wonderful play you'll never take a date to!"

  8. Idle by ceswiedler · · Score: 4, Informative

    Gee...if only Eric Idle weren't my least favorite Python. Seriously, his stuff on the show and movies was so-so at best. Do any of the really classic Python quotes or scenes have Idle in them?

    (Michael Palin, of course, being the best, with Terry Jones as Most Underrated).

  9. "And spank me-" "-and me" by abscr · · Score: 3, Funny

    Hopefully the actor that is going save get Galahad from the virgins is late coming onto the stage which will call for some adlibing . . .

  10. Do you think... by i.r.id10t · · Score: 4, Funny

    Do you think they'll have a Spanish Inquisition? 'Cause I don't think I'd expect it...

    --
    Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos
  11. Re:Just one technical problem... by goodbye_kitty · · Score: 3, Funny

    Unfortunately this didnt stop the Bee-Gees.

  12. Just imagine .... by bizitch · · Score: 5, Funny

    .. the full size cow being catapulted into the audience

    The possiblities are endless -

    --
    ---- "Logoff! That cookie shit makes me nervous!" - A. Soprano
  13. It's good to see by alex_ant · · Score: 5, Funny

    That he's not just sitting around being idle

  14. Could be cool by yoshi1013 · · Score: 4, Interesting
    It has potential, it would certainly be a lot of fun to see stuff like the Camelot scene performed live.

    But what I'm more interested in is how on earth they're going to end it?

    They can't really have a cameraman being bumped into by the press or something because that particular 4th wall doesn't exist onstage.

    Maybe they'll have policemen storm the aisles and evacuate the theater.

    1. Re:Could be cool by anakuran · · Score: 3, Informative

      Still available here :)

  15. On second thought... by Kedisar · · Score: 5, Funny

    On second thought, let's not go to Broadway. 'Tis a silly place.

    1. Re:On second thought... by Nept · · Score: 4, Funny

      Lancelot: Look, my liege!
      [trumpets]
      King Arthur: Spamelot!
      Sir Galahad: Spamelot!
      Lancelot: Spamelot!
      Patsy: It's only a musical.
      King Arthur: Shh!

      --
      "Teachers leave us kids alone ..." - Roger Waters, Pink Floyd
  16. European Subtlety by The+Monster · · Score: 4, Funny
    Rather than the normal subdued humor that is the hallmark of European humor
    France. Jerry Lewis. 'Nuff said.
    --

    [100% ISO 646 Compliant]
    SVM, ERGO MONSTRO.

  17. I feel sorry for all the women out there... by Anonvmous+Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... who are about to be exposed to endless repetitive Monty Python quotes. My gf was so relieved that I'm a Spaceballs fan.

    1. Re:I feel sorry for all the women out there... by Pseudonym · · Score: 3, Funny

      Well, that's just the sort of blinkered, phillistine pig-ignorance I've come to expect from you non-creative garbage. You sit there on your loathsome spotty behind, squeezing blackheads, not caring a tinker's cuss for a struggling artist, you EXCREMENT! You whining, hypocritical toady with your colour TV set and your Tony Jacklin golf clubs and your bleeding masonic secret handshakes. You wouldn't let me join, would you, you blackballing BASTARD! Well I wouldn't become a Freemason now if you got down on your lousy stinking knees and begged me!

      Sorry, I don't know what came over me.

      --
      sub f{($f)=@_;print"$f(q{$f});";}f(q{sub f{($f)=@_;print"$f(q{$f});";}f});
  18. If Mel Brooks can do it... by Jonin893 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Don't get me wrong, I love Mel Brooks, I think his best works (Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein) are better than any of Monty Python's movies, but if he could turn "The Producers" into an excellent musical, certainly the much better "Holy Grail" could be one also.

    Of course, some gags, like the bunny might be dificult, it'd be very hard to see on stage. But the tradeoff is, we'll be able to see a chorus line singing, "We're Knights of the Round Table, we dance we e'er we're able...."

    Of course, it also means more exposure to Sir Robin's minstrels probably. That could be problematic.

    The thing I really want to see though, is how Terry Gilliam's animation transfers to broadway. How exactly do we depict an animator having a heartattack on broadway?! I mean, it's a given that the aptly named, "Sir Not Apperaing in this Musical" won't be there, but how can we cut the monster out?

    Oh well, as long as they still depict god talking like a Gilliam creation, you know, head completely detaching, I will be happy.

  19. Was I the only one by lewko · · Score: 5, Funny
    ...who saw the topic and knew that the vast majority of replies would be nothing more than random Python quotes?

    I mean REALLY.... I fart in your general direction...

    --
    Do you or your partner snore? - Visit www.snoring.com.au
  20. Potential by Kenterlogic · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I can see this becoming a major success because the low-budget nature of the film offers itself to easily adapting to stage as there aren't any flashy special effects to emulate. Except the "non-moving charging knight" scene and of course all those whacky animations. Maybe you should discuss this, at great length, at the new Root Forum I bet it will dethrone the Producers as hottest ticket on Broadway.

    --
    The New Root Council, kickin' ass sinc
  21. Holy Grail - Monty Python = 0 by Executive+Override · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If it's without the original cast it's worthless. Anyone else saying "It's a flesh wound!", "Run Away!", "African or European?", "Ni!", etc, is just blasphemy.

  22. From the least (and nastiest) of the Pythons... by el+borak · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Ever wanted to know what Idle is really like? Or why his fellow ex-Pythons rarely work with him? The original page is gone, but The Wayback Machine comes to the rescue. A choice quote:
    The other Pythons have become accustomed to this attitude over the last 30 years - and because they have continuing business interests in common - have to tolerate it. Living 6,000 miles away from him and seeing him only very occasionally helps.

    But they are unsparing about him behind his back. "Eric Idle gives selfishness a bad name" is John Cleese's openly-expressed and widely-repeated description of his former colleague.

    --
    An imperfect plan executed violently is far superior to a perfect plan. -- George Patton
  23. /.ers submitting movie quotes have been sacked by PoisonousPhat · · Score: 3, Funny

    Wait a minute... Doesn't that mean that
    We apologise for the karma-whoring in this post. Those user responsible has been sacked.

    --
    Losers choose to abuse the use of "loose".
  24. Holy grail in Russia.. by adeyadey · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Did you know that the "Holy Grail" was a huge hit in the Soviet Union at the time - something like No 3 at the box office? The Soviet censors liked the films send-up of religion (& imperialism - remember the socialist peasants!), and passed it as being suitable viewing, maybe missing the strong thread of anarchism that pervades all of Pythons work. You could argue that it was cultural erosion like this that helped bring down the Wall..

    The film itself was shot for peanuts in a damp part of scotland in just a few weeks. The actors really were damp and cold when performing it, giving the film an authentic grimness missing from glossy Hollywood takes on medieval Britain. All the music was cheap "mood-music" taken off some LP. Gilliam is a great director who doesnt make nearly enough films, in my view.

    --
    "You lied to me! There is a Swansea!"
  25. People! by InsaneCreator · · Score: 4, Funny

    This is supposed to be a happy occasion! Let's not bicker and argue about who made what into a musical!

  26. Ni? by Manic+Ken · · Score: 3, Funny

    Ni, ni ni ni.
    Ni ni nininini

    NI

  27. Re:Thin Blue Line was subtle? by ArsSineArtificio · · Score: 4, Funny
    Americans (and Canadians) watch reality TV and "idol" shows

    You know, because nothing like "Survivor" or musical "Idol" shows has ever been successful in Britain.

    --
    All employees must wash hands before seeking equitable relief.