by Karl J. Paloucek
If you’re like a lot of Monty Python fans, chances are you don’t have an invite for the troupe’s 40th anniversary reunion at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City. (If you do, ya wanna sell it?) Short of being able to attend, you still can watch the event as it unfolds, as it will stream live on both IFC.com and PythOnline.com.
It’s been more than 10 years since the five surviving members of Monty Python — John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin — reunited for one of these events. (Fans may recall that the late Graham Chapman was also present, in an urn with a picture of his face taped to it; very probably, Chapman will make a similar appearance this time round.) The Pythons will hold court and answer questions from the audience. No doubt there will be questions about Spam, dead parrots and cheesy comestibles that will elicit illuminating answers, but those looking for a fuller, more complete appreciation of these comedic giants will want to tune in to IFC next week for the main event — the one for which this reunion has been arranged — the six-part documentary series Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer’s Cut), premiering Oct. 18.
For more on the Pythons and an interview with the creators of Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer’s Cut), click here.
