Re-enacting the intro to Monty Python's Cheese Shop sketch

Found myself in Richmond, so I sallied forth to One Paved Court to re-enact the intro to Monty Python's Cheese Shop Sketch - you're forced to! Photos and video by Gemma Harris​

Monty Python Live (a 20th Century Vole Production)

"Meep!"

A once-in-a-lifetime experience x 4

How quickly the eight months passed from the day the Monty Python Live shows were announced last November to the first show on 1st July! With a little help from my friends, I ended up seeing it four times, and that included the first night and the grand farewell finale on 20th July.

Back in November on the day the tickets went on sale, I did 6 live radio interviews including The Jeremy Vine Show on Radio 2. And on 1st July, in addition to being on two more live radio shows, I was interviewed by the Belgian equivalent of the 9 o'clock TV News: VRT Nieuws.

Me, mid interview, on Belgian telly! Click the image to watch the interview. Click here to see behind-the-scenes photos of the film crew in my home: https://it.thislife.com/KHXVD2t4

So the day of the first show had finally arrived. In the courtyard at the entrance of the O2 Arena, there was a whole lot of silliness going on. 

Click the image to see more Python Live Silliness photos, including some of Python devotee Emma Thompson and her family!

Just before the show, by chance, I bumped into my old chum André Jacquemin of Redwood Studios (who features heavily in previous posts in this blog), and Sonia Jones who sang the theme tune to Life of Brian. They were just having a breather before curtain up. André, Python's sound engineer since day one, was doing the sound for the show and Sonia was part of the choir and she also played Mrs Betty Teale on VT. It was wonderful to meet her!

Sonia Jones, John Wood and André Jacquemin

And so, I was lucky enough to see the show four times, and all wonderful it was too, although I definitely prefer Lark's vomit to Mouse poo (I'm a purist) and I'm so used to seeing 20-something year old faces doing those sketches. But it's 2014... what did I expect? I was very pleased that so much of the older material was included, as the closest I had previously got to seeing a live Python show was the Secret Policeman's Biggest Ball in 1989. I really loved the new stuff too; essentially the huge dance numbers and notably, the Vagina Song and the Bottom Song.

Click the image above for a selection of photos I took of the four performances 

Along the way, I was also lucky enough to get some shots of me with a host of Python-related celebs: 

With Terry Jones' wife Anna Soderstrom

With Polly Parrot, the Norwegian Blue

With John Du Prez, the show's conductor, who composed the score for Monty Python's The Meaning of Life and is the co-author (with Eric Idle) of the music for Monty Python's Spamalot.

With Graham McDuff who has played both Sir Lancelot and Sir Galahad in Spamalot. We first met at the stage door of the Palace Theatre in 2007 and have met at many a Spamalot stage door since.

With Alan Yentob who recently presented the insightful BBC documentary Monty Python: And Now For Something Rather Similar

Over the four nights, I also met up with many Python fans, some for the first time in "real life", two of whom flew all the way from LA just to see the show! That's Professor Molly Lavik who is currently writing a very interesting book (much more on that later), and the up-and-coming actress BreAnna "Bo" Chérie Wittman who is one of the Monty Pythong players. It was so good to meet them both! There was also Sally Western, Chris Butcher, Gemma Harris, Jonathan Gash, Lee Blazer, James Gent (who's also writing a very interesting book) and Hanna Anevik. What a happy bunch we made!

André Jacquemin and his daughter Jamie Lisa (one of the singers) kindly joined us after the show. Click the image above to see more photos. 

Gemma Harris, Jonathan Gash and Lee Blazer. Click the image above to see more photos of my Monty Python fan friends

The most memorable night was, of course, the last ever show. It was actually quite a sad moment when Eric Idle, during the encore just before Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, asked the audience to join in to bid them farewell... and then seeing them walk off stage for the very last time. But it's not the end of Python as we know it, because the DVD of the show is coming out in November, and they are bound to release other spin-offs such as books and albums. And there is now at last, a Monty Python online store! Then there's Spamalot which is going on tour from January 2015. And next year also sees the 40th anniversary of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. So it's only Monty Python live which has gone to meet its maker; there's loads more to look forward to!

To conclude, Eric Idle did an incredible job putting the show together - it was a massive hit! And what a treat it was for me! The very thing I've been passionate about for 40 years is suddenly on stage at full blast right in front of me, and it's the talk of the town, not just in London but all over the world due to the live global broadcast of the last show. Pure indulgence. 

John Cleese: Art for Alimony

The John Cleese Art Collection at the Chris Beetles Gallery, London

John Cleese and John Wood: I finally got a photo with JC, the almighty!

John Cleese, Eric Idle, Sir Trevor Nunn and Prof Brian Cox arrive

Thanks to art lover and Python fan, Chris Butcher, my name was put on the guest list for this event that took place on Tues 3 Sept 2013, together with Python fans Alexandra Weid and Lolly Taylor-Archer. Actually, it turned out that there was, in fact, no guest list (anyone could just walk in - if it wasn't so packed that is) which was a bit surprising, since free champagne was flowing all night.

John Cleese was selling off 110 items of his art collection to raise funds towards his alimony payments to his ex-wife, Alyce Faye Eichelberger, at the Chris Beetles Gallery in Ryder Street, London, SW1. From Wikipedia: "The divorce settlement left Eichelberger with £12 million in finance and assets, including £600,000 a year for seven years. Cleese stated that "What I find so unfair is that if we both died today, her children would get much more than mine"."

The place was absolutely packed (there were 400 of us, says the Daily Mail), and there were so many celebs in the crowd! Here are those I recognised, but there were many faces I'd seen on the telly but I couldn't figure out who they were:

Eric Idle (a very pleasant surprise), Prof Brian Cox, Sir Tim Rice, Sir Trevor Nunn, Anthony Andrews, Terence Conoley and Jeffrey Archer.

The wives of the late Peter Cook and Michael Winner were also present.

Chris Beetles, owner of the art gallery, introduced John Cleese who talked a little bit about his recently departed friends, Sir David Frost and Michael Winner, and he then pointed out various items in the collection and told us the stories behind them and how he came to own them.

Afterwards, he signed autographs for ages, and I managed to get a photo with him, finally! I had met John Cleese before, at the Secret Policeman's Biggest Ball back in 1989, when I asked him what this Neville Shunte/Gavin Millarrrrrrrr Python sketch was all about, and he explained it to me.

Press coverage: 

1. Fashion Magazine 247:John Cleese and Eric Idle Reunite which Eric Idle tweeted about here: https://twitter.com/EricIdle/status/375218714440130561 "John Wood sent me this, John Cleese and me, at Johns art sale, enjoying a joke about the Daily Mail..."
2. Daily Mail: Now John Cleese sells off art memories to pay for divorce from third wife
3. Daily Mail: Donna Air misses out on Pippa's birthday bash: Ditched 'sister-in-law's' 30th for jewellery party down the road
4. Daily Mail: RICHARD KAY: I won't be Prince George's godfather, says Guy Pelly
5. Daily Telegraph: Monty Python star John Cleese finds that his taste in art changes with his wives
6. Daily Express: Fawlty times for John Cleese

John Cleese with 94-year old actor Terence Conoley who appeared in Fawlty Towers

Terence Conoley played Mr Johnstone in "The Waldorf Salad" (1:02) and Mr Wareing in "A Touch of Class" (4:00 and the closing seconds)

Sir Trevor Nunn

Sir Trevor Nunn and John Cleese were at Cambridge together

Sir Trevor Nunn told me he introduced John Cleese to Graham Chapman at Cambridge!

Jennifer Wade, John Cleese, Sir Trevor Nunn

Jennifer Wade, Eric Idle, John Cleese, Brian Cox

John Cleese and Eric Idle

Here's the front view of this shot (not taken by me)

A Double Whammy!

Sir Tim Rice

Chris Beetles introduces John Cleese

John Cleese signed a lot of autographs that day!

Carol Cleveland Attends the Final Pre-Release Screening of A Liar's Autobiography

I risked my life taking this photo for you! I had to stand in the middle of a busy Shaftesbury Avenue! The things we do for art!

The 3D animated untrue story 
of Monty Python's Graham Chapman
- A Liar's Autobiography -
goes on general release in the UK

Click here for listngs http://bit.ly/11GoX6j

Friday 8th Feb 2013 - Curzon Cinema Soho: Attending this special event which marked the start of the film's UK general release, in addition to Carol Cleveland (the seventh Python), were:

• The film's 3 directors: Jeff Simpson, Ben Timlett and Terry Jones' son, Bill Jones
• Monty Python's sound engineer who also appeared in the film: André Jacquemin
• Philip Bulcock who played David Sherlock as well as one or two other characters

A Liar's Autobiography is a FAB film (Fabricated Animated Biopic); in a genre all of its own! 

In the bar area of the cinema, a life-size cardboard cutout of Graham Chapman as the Colonel watched over an exhibition of various props from A Liar's Autobiography (the actual model of Sigmund Freud that appeared in the movie as well as his desk, plus the figures used in the opening Oscar Wilde scene); Monty Python and the Holy Grail (the actual sun emblem King Arthur wore on his chest); and The Life of Brian (the actual sandal!). Also on display was Graham's Cambridge scarf.

The three directors: Bill Jones asked the audience to comply with Graham Chapman's wishes at the start of  the film and to shout abuse at the screen for 60 seconds

The actual sandal from The Life of Brian!

Various props from A Liar's Autobiography, Monty Python and the Holy Grail and The Life of Brian - plus Graham's Cambridge scarf

"Please welcome Carol Cleveland" Our Carol's not shy, that's for sure

Some artwork from the film on display at the Curzon Cinema Soho 
(Exhibition thanks to LOCO London Comedy Film Festival)

Some stills from the film, background info, poster etc
(Exhibition thanks to LOCO London Comedy Film Festival)

Me "cuddling" Sigmund Freud (voiced by Cameron Diaz)

Graham's Cambridge scarf (no that wasn't his actual pipe)

Me with Carol Cleveland!

Philip Bulcock, me, André Jacquemin - photo taken by Carol Cleveland on my phone!

Philip Bulcock, Carol Cleveland, André Jacquemin

Philip Bulcock, Carol Cleveland, André Jacquemin

It was great to see André again, and I was so pleased to finally meet Philip having corresponded with him so much in the Twittersphere.

I also managed to have a little chat with Carol. I guessed that her most memorable Python sketch that she appeared in was either Marriage Councillor or Scott of the Sahara. For her, it was the latter. She told me how it was one of the rare long sketches that was filmed on location on Torquay Beach in 1969. At that time, she had only known the Pythons for about two weeks. She said she really enjoyed filming it and that they were always laughing so much on set. I asked her about her topless scene (well, I had to!) and she said that it was the only time she refused a Python 'order'! In the script, she was supposed to run up the beach away from the sea as the final cactus removed her bra. But by then, a large crowd had gathered to watch the filming, and she did not fancy running topless towards the crowd. So instead, she ran with her back to the crowd towards the sea. And here is the masterpiece for your delight:

A Liar's Autobiography on DVD and Blu-ray will be available from 18 Feb but can be pre-ordered now.

A Liar's Autobiography - The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman: UK Release Date - 16 October 2012

Yes folks - you heard it here first! Tues 16 Oct 2012 is the UK premiere of A Liar's Autobiography - The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman, at the Empire Leicester Square, London, as will soon be confirmed here, where you will be able to buy your tickets: http://www.empirecinemas.co.uk/index.php?page=forthcomingreleases

Photo: animationmagazine.net

"Graham Chapman, probably best remembered as 'the dead one from Monty Python', writes and stars in the animated movie of his own life story.

He was born, he went to Cambridge and met John Cleese, he smoked a pipe, he became a doctor, he became a Python, he decided he was gay (well, 70/30, according to a survey he did on himself), he got drunk a lot, he stopped being drunk, he made some films, he had some sex (actually, a lot), and moved to Los Angeles. Finally, he was whisked up into space by aliens (although that might have been in a film).

Featuring recordings of Chapman that he made of his book in 1982 and matched with recorded sound from present, the film reunites members of the Monty Python troupe and brings Chapman back to life in a tour de force of animation through 17 different animation styles from 15 different animators."

More info on the movie (in no particular order):

• Kalkion: ‘A Liar’s Autobiography’ The Untrue Story of Monty Python’s Graham Chapman Coming Soon
• Animate Chapman competition:  http://www.animatechapman.com/
• Uptone: Our Exclusive Preview of A Liar's Autobiography - The True Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman
• IMDb:  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1979172/releaseinfo
• Wikipedia:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Liar%27s_Autobiography
• Press release:  http://eon.businesswire.com/news/eon/20120724005691/en
• Synopsis, notes, production stills: http://corp.epixhd.com/press/liars/  
• Leah-Ellen Heming - Art directing an animation:  http://leahheming.weebly.com/1/post/2011/10/a-liars-autobiography-art-directing-an-animation.html
• Zippy Frames - more stills and info:  http://www.zippyframes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=970:new-stills-and-info-for-monty-python-film-a-liars-autobiography&catid=101&Itemid=100011
• Projectchapman3d.com - the animators, behind the scenes, 3D: http://www.projectchapman3d.com/
• Lottie Kings - A Liar’s Autobiography screening at last!: http://lottiekings.wordpress.com/category/project-chapman-3d-a-liars-autobiography/
• Animating Monty Python's Latest Chapter in Stereo 3D:  http://www.studiodaily.com/2011/10/animating-monty-pythons-latest-chapter-in-stereo-3d/
• New York Times - This May Be Something Completely Different:  http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/27/movies/graham-chapman-tribute-from-monty-python.html?_r=2 
• Guardian - Monty Python team to reanimate Graham Chapman:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/jun/28/monty-python-graham-chapman-3d-film?CMP=twt_gu
• Telegraph - Monty Python back for 3D animated film: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/8602765/Monty-Python-back-for-3D-animated-film.html
• On YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%22liar%27s+autobiography%22&page=1
• Superfad Creates 3D Animation for Upcoming Chapman Feature Release A Liar's Autobiography: http://www.dexigner.com/news/23847
• Bleedingcool - Images From The Monty Python Near-Reunion Pic, A Liar’s Autobiography: http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/07/09/images-from-the-monty-python-near-reunion-pic-a-liars-autobigoraphy/
• Animationmagazine.net - Graham Chapman Pic Sponsors Animation Contest: http://www.animationmagazine.net/events/graham-chapman-pic-sponsors-animation-contest/
• On Twitter:  https://twitter.com/aliarsautobio
• Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/aliarsautobiographymovie