I Married Gemma on Monty Python's 50th Anniversary

On 5th October 2019 at the beautiful Ravenswood wedding venue, I married my fellow Python-fan devotee love, Gemma, at our heavily themed Monty Python wedding.

Throughout the building, around 150 Monty Python "exhibits" were on display including very silly posters, a fish tank full of fish with faces, a 16-ton weight hanging over everyone's head and a nine-foot dead parrot on the top table. They took Gemma two years to create.

We performed the Buying a Bed sketch and we sang and performed the Sit On My Face sketch, and to cap it all, Carol Cleveland herself turned up by surprise on the day and became our guest of honour! During the ceremony, the rings were presented within the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch and, yes, we did have Spam on the menu.

It was SUCH a fun, happy day. Many of the guests, themselves not Monty Python fans, told us that it was the best wedding they had EVER been to!

The wedding even has its own website: www.pythonesquewedding.co.uk

That 'flesh wound' line in MI5 is NOT a Python reference, but Chris McQuarrie IS a Python Fan!

Isn't it wonderful the way Twitter allows you to reach out to celebs, those in the public eye or others who ordinarily would be completely unreachable? It's even more wonderful that, in some cases, you even get a reply!

Here's a case in point: I couldn't help noticing that in Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation (aka MI5), there's the line "It's only a flesh would." It's in the scene just after the high drama in the opera house.

I decided to find out whether this was a Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Black Knight) reference, so I asked the film's director, Christopher McQuarrie, on Twitter, and he replied!

Christopher McQuarrie's a Python fan... #Respect!

Spamalot London: the end of another era

As I went to the opening night of Spamalot at The Playhouse Theatre, London in November 2011, I simply HAD to go to its closing night too. Would've be rude not to! And as usual, I took a few friends along with me. (I have promoted the show SO MUCH over the years on Twitter, Facebook, my blog and virtually to everyone I meet, I really should have worked out a commission deal with the producers back in 2007! I'd be loaded by now! Oh well. That wasn't why I was promoting it. The fact is, Spamalot is the funniest and most brilliant show I've ever seen, and I wanted others to enjoy it too.)

As the title of this blog post suggests, it wasn't the first Spamalot closing night I've been to. I also witnessed the end of Spamalot's run at The Palace Theatre (the executive version) back in January 2009.

With Jodie Prenger in April 2011

Every time I've seen Spamalot, there's always been something different about it; Spamalot never stood still, and last night's performance was no exception. It wasn't seeing the excellent Jodie Prenger (what a voice!) as Lady of the Lake because I saw her in that role at Aylesbury when Spamalot was on tour in 2011. I did manage to say hello to her at the stage door last night though, when she told me how honoured she was to be asked to close the show at The Playhouse. It was lovely to see her again. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to get a photo with her this time but she did give me a nice hug :-)

The main difference for me last night was to see Robin Armstrong as King Arthur for the first time. He was possibly the first clean shaven King Arthur I'd ever seen. It was so strange for me not to see him say "And then we LEAP out of the rabbit!" Consequently, it was the first time I'd seen Graham Newell in a lead role and I really enjoyed his performance. I thought his bent-over portrayal of Mrs Galahad was hilarious!

James Bisp |Robin Armstrong | Michael Burgen

I was so happy to meet James Bisp, finally. He wasn't on when I saw the show a few weeks ago, and the previous time, I didn't happen to see him at the stage door (which is always a bit of a scrummage - and it's also very badly lit. To The Playhouse management - if you wanted to do something fan-friendly, please install a light back there so we can see who's who!). What a charming fellow! I think his portrayal of Sir Galahad is, or rather was, outstanding! The parts he plays (Dennis, The Black Knight, Sir Galahad) are really convincing; he is such a good actor!

The atmosphere last night was, understandably, more upbeat than usual. However, I was expecting the audience to demand an encore of the finale, Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, since it was the last night, but it was not to be!

Graham MacDuff with Harry in 2007,
with me in 2011 and last night

The biggest surprise for me happened not during the show but afterwards at the stage door. I bumped into someone who has become somewhat of an 'old friend': Graham MacDuff (husband of the gorgeous Anna Jane Casey) who has played both Sir Galahad and Sir Lancelot over the years. He just popped in last night to see the last show. We first met at the stage door of The Palace back in 2007, in the days when Dennis used to say "Soggy old blondes with their backsides in ponds can't replace the electorate." It was so lovely to see him again and such a nice surprise!

I think last night was the 16th time I'd seen the show. To be honest, I've lost count! If you really wanted to see every blog post of every performance of Spamalot I went to, then click here, but I'd understand if just wanted to see the highlights:

• 25/01/07 - Spamalot: my first time (at the Palace Theatre)
• 12/02/08 - Nina Söderquist appears as the Lady of the Lake for the first time
• 04/01/09 - The last performance at The Palace Theatre
• 02/04/11 - One of the many times I saw Spamalot on its UK tour
• 04/10/12 - A performance at the Harold Pinter Theatre
• 21/11/12 - Opening night at The Playhouse
• 27/08/13 - Michael Palin appears in person as God

Do you think Spamalot will return next year as part of the 40th anniversary of Monty Python and the Holy Grail? I hope it does!

Spamalot... my 15th time - maybe not my last after all

Spamalot is on at The Playhouse Theatre, London, but not for much longer. (Photo by Hy Money)

Yes, I went to see Spamalot again! This time, accompanied by my friends Sally Western (of Peter Cook 'Green Plaque' fame) and Hy Money (the UK's first female sports photographer and former photographer for Crystal Palace FC).

We had such a great time! I was so pleased to see Adam Ellis again as it was his day off last time I saw the show, much to my disappointment. His portrayal of Prince Herbert is so funny! After the show, we met the cast as they came out of the stage door and luckily, Hy Money took a photo of Adam and me!

Adam Ellis (who plays Prince Herbert and lots of other characters) and me, with the Millennium Wheel in the background (photo by Hy Money)

It was also wonderful for me to see, for the first time, James Bisp in the role of Sir Gallahad (and the Black Night and Prince Herbert's father etc). I was really impressed! What a strong performance! He really brought all the characters to life. Clearly, he has a glittering career ahead of him. I was so looking forward to meeting him at the stage door, but he somehow slipped out, probably when I was chatting to another member of the cast. I think they should come out one by one in an orderly fashion for us fans! It would make things so much easier if the theatre installed a ticketing system like they have at the deli counter in Sainsbury's. I digress.

I did manage to have a little chat with newbies Michael Burgen who plays Patsy, Daniel Boys (Sir Lancelot, Knight of Ni!, French Knight and Tim the Enchanter etc) and King Arthur himself, Joe Pasquale who photobombed a shot of Bonnie Langford and Hy Money I was taking!

It must be pretty scary stepping into a well-established show as the new boy! Respect to them!

Bonnie Langford (Lady of the Lake) and Hy Money being photobombed by Joe Pasquale (King Arthur)

 Bonnie Langford and Hy Money without Joe Pasquale

 Bonnie Langford and Hy Money with Joe Pasquale

I also managed to have a chat with Spamalot veterans Rob Delaney who plays Sir Robin (it was not much more than a "hello" to be honest, unfortunately), the lovely Hannah Malekzad (one of the knights who say Ni! and female ensemble) and the no-less-lovely Robin Armstrong (Sir Bedevere and Sir Galahad's mother etc). The cast are such a friendly bunch of people!

 Robin Armstrong, Michael Burgen and me (photo by Hy Money)

Spamalot closes on Saturday April 12th. How I would love to have a ticket for that performance...!

oo0oo

One reason that Hy Money was keen to meet up with Bonnie Langford was that she wanted to show her some photos she took of the cast of the 1982 performance of Pirates of Penzance at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane which starred an 18-year old Bonnie! Hy was a press photographer at the time and had been invited to the show's photocall. And here they are:

Lots of famous faces in the cast of Pirates of Penzance, Theatre Royal, 1982, including Bonnie Langford. Can you name them all? (Photos by Hy Money)

Saw Spamalot Again... my 14th time, but not my last

Me and Birgit just before curtain up

Many closing dates have been given for Spamalot London, and once I even bought a ticket to see the show, supposedly for the last time, only to discover that the run at The Playhouse had been extended yet again. But I fear they really mean it this time. A light finally goes out in the West End on 12th April :-(

Birgit Vaughan and I went to see the show for my 14th and penultimate time, last Saturday for the matinee performance. It was my first experience of Joe Pasquale as King Arthur, and what a delight it was! Of all the King Arthurs I have seen, he ad libed the most. It looks like he really loves trying to corpse the other actors on stage. e.g. "Shave my wildebeest"! Hilarious!

Since my last visit, I noticed some very funny little tweaks have been made to the script, like the shrubbery that's got heavy! I've seen the show change many many times since it was at The Palace Theatre, all those years ago.

No disrespect to their replacements who were great, but I was saddened to see that Jon Robyn (Galahad) and Kit Orton (Lancelot) have both left the show. And Adam Ellis (Herbert) was off that day, which only left Bonnie Langford (Lady of the Lake, whose singing gave me goosebumps), Robin Armstrong (Bedevere) and Rob Delaney (Robin) flying the flag for the old days!

Sadly, two of my bucket list items will now never be fulfilled. I never bought a D1 seat (it's a bit pricey), and I never did play Sir Not Appearing in this Show (I'm not famous enough i.e. not at all). Oh well, had fantastic fun nonetheless, seeing the show, on average, twice every year for seven years.

Supposing Spamalot really does shut on 12 April, my last time will be on 17th March; I'm going with a whole crowd. Looking forward to that even though it will be a bit sad too.

Michael Palin appears as God in Spamalot in aid of his charity Action for Stammering Children

How exciting it was to see Spamalot again (my 13th time), knowing that Michael Palin himself was going to walk on stage at the end of the show during the curtain call.

The last time I saw Spamalot was on opening night at The Playhouse Theatre, last November with Stephen Tomkinson as King Arthur, Anna-Jane Casey as the Lady of the Lake, Todd Carty as Patsy and Graham MacDuff as Sir Lancelot.

Last night, Les Dennis, the current King Arthur did a splendid job in the part and he even sends himself up at one point in the show! And Michael Burgen makes an excellent Patsy.

The others (Bonnie Langford as Lady of the Lake and Kit Orton as Sir Lancelot) I had seen perform previously when the show was at the Harold Pinter Theatre. They are both amazing and extremely funny!

A very clever PR person (who deserves a pay rise) - or was it Eric Idle? - came up with the idea of getting stars to play God in the show for a week each, in aid of their chosen charities. Michael Palin's charity is Action for Stammering Children aka The Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children, for which his performance in the show will raise awareness and funds.

In his totally heartfelt speech (before the all-cast finale rendition of Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, with Michael in the centre of the chorus line and holding hands with Les Dennis and Bonnie Langford), he said that his father suffered from a terrible stammer and how different his life would have been if Action for Stammering Children had been around in his day. He said that he found it so moving how the charity helps the children overcome their stammer, that his support of the charity is what he is most proud of.

I went with a group of Python fans (we almost all met each other for the first time at the show!) and, needless to say, we all had a fantastic time!

More photos here: http://fuckyeahidlepalin.tumblr.com/tagged/august-26

With special thanks to Boom Ents

PS I want you to know that the Playhouse Theatre has very comfy seats and nice clean loos! It's a delightful place!

7th Python arrives in Newhaven

Carol Cleveland gives a talk to the Newhaven Chamber of Commerce members and their guests

Actress Carol Cleveland – best recognised as the only featured, female member of the Monty Python team and often referred to as the 7th Python – captivated an audience of Newhaven Chamber of Commerce members and their guests at the Newhaven Enterprise Centre on 4 December 2012. 

Carol relayed tales from her busy theatrical career, in particular from her days on the road with the Monty Python team – from appearing with them in the Flying Circus series to being on stage with them at the Royal Albert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl where they played to audiences of 8000 every night. More recently, she appeared in Not the Messiah at the Royal Albert Hall for the Python’s 40th anniversary. On film, she played Dingo and Zoot in Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Miss Hannigan in Annie II, A Royal Adventure. 

She ended her talk with a hilarious tale of the time she met the Queen at Buckingham Palace. 

Her latest project is a new Python related film called A Liar’s Autobiography which is a 3D, animated film version of the late Graham Chapman’s book of the same name, for which Carol did most of the female voices. The film was recently premiered at the London Film Festival. 

Here she is in Monty Python's 1969 "Marriage Guidance Sketch":

And here she is in a documentary about the filming of Monty Python and the Holy Grail:

References:

• http://www.carolcleveland.com
• http://www.newhavenchamber.co.uk
• http://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/local/monty-python-s-seventh-member-to-give-talk-at-newhaven-chamber-of-commerce-1-4519871

Spamalot West End: My 12th time

Spamalot is on at The Playhouse Theatre until April 2013

I will never tire of this hilariously funny show (based on the movie "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"). The first time I saw it was in 2007, and last night - my 12th time - will definitely not be my last. I cried laughing throughout, unable to see the stage for tears, as always!

Stephen Tomkinson was superb as King Arthur, as was Anna-Jane Casey as the Lady of the Lake - the two newcomers. I loved their interpretations of their characters: Stephen gave King Arthur a lot more depth and emotion than he is usually played, and Anna-Jane was vocally stunning and cheeky with it. She is perfect for this part which she should have been offered years ago! But actually all the cast - Todd Carty, Michael Burgen, Graham MacDuff (we go back a long way), Jon Robyns, Robin Armstrong, Rob Delaney, Adam Ellis, James Nelson, Chris Jenkins, Hannah Malekzad, Rachel Knowles, Paul Bullion, Matthew Russell-Jones, Graham Newell, Amelia Adams-Pearce - were outstanding!

Spamalot is SO good and SO funny, it's a wonderful night out and a guaranteed pick-me-up; far better at beating the blues than antidepressants. Its only side effect: strained laughing muscles. 

Last night was Press Night so the audience was awash with celebs which made the evening even more exciting! And, I was invited to the After Party with the entire cast and crew. I recently appeared in The Metro for being Monty Python's biggest fan, so what made the evening even more special for me was that many of the cast members I spoke to told me they had read the article! Yesterday was one of the best days of my life!

Actress Rebecca Grant (Holby City, Prisioner's Wives, Emmerdale - I'm her publicist!) with artist Anyes Greene

Rebecca Grant, John Wood (me!) and Anyes Greene

Me with John Partridge from Eastenders

Me with Ian McNeice

Rebecca Grant being photographed by a pap

Me with Stephen Tomkinson at the opening "knight" after party (no flash!)

Me with Dave Gormam

Me with Melanie Masson from X Factor

My ticket - the best I've ever had, only 20 seats along from the legendary D1!!

My After Party invitation - Get in!

Other celebs who were at the show who I didn't manage to photograph: X Factor stars Javine Hylton and Kye Sones (had a nice chat with both of them).

Media coverage of the Press Night:

• Rex Features celeb photos
• London Evening Standard
• The Telegraph
• British Theatre Guide
• West End Frame
• Broadway World

UK Premiere of A Liar's Autobiography, Empire Leicester Square

A Liar's Autobiography flyer we were given on entering the cinema

On the back of the flyer, the words to a very rude song, for us all to sing along to 

The two tickets I won in the BFI's "Biggest Monty Python Fan" competition after the one I paid for

16 October 2012: As winner of the British Film Institute's "Biggest Monty Python Fan" competition, I felt I was on official duty to some degree during the proceedings! Many people throughout the night told me they had seen my tweets promoting the film, that they were grateful and that I was famous! 

I had been looking forward to the premiere for such a long time as I somehow knew about this project when it was just an idea. Even though I had a ticket (three actually as you can see above!), I decided to stand behind the railings by the side of the red carpet to watch the celebs arrive and the media circus unfold.

I was chuffed that Bill Jones, one of the three directors of the film (and Terry Jones's son), recognised me (from the Adobe Private Screening of A Liar's Autobiography 2 weeks earlier) while walking down the red carpet and came up to me and said hello!

Then Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Carol Cleveland, Neil Innes, Justin McDonald, Ronald Rivron, Sanjeev Bhaskar and Barry Cryer walked the walk and the media circus was well and truly underway. To keep the fans happy, there were several Graham Chapmans wandering around in character, namely, the Colonel who kept saying "Stop that, it's too silly", King Arthur (and Patsy) with coconuts, Mr Throat Wobbler Mangrove, pronounced "Luxury Yacht" (complete with huge polystyrene nose) and Brian who later, inside the cinema, gave us Brian's speech from Life of Brian that includes the line "We're all individuals" to which someone in the audience inevitably, and exactly on cue, shouted, "I'm not!"

I went inside and took my seat and the three directors and three very well known members of the cast introduced the film in a very original way, and did a Q and A session afterwards.

 

It was so good to see the film a second time. There is so much to take in, it needs at least two viewings. The length of time images and scenes stay in your head from the movie you have just seen is my measure of how good the movie is. Well it's still happening, and I first saw it on 4 October! I say it's a masterpiece and Graham Chapman would have loved it!

When the Q and A session ended with a "Sit on My Face" singalong, we all had fun at the after party. It was such a wonderful unforgettable night! I was on Cloud 9 the whole time!