My opinion was fairly high to begin with, but I still think this was a classy move.
NEW YORK — Britney Spears is out, Posh Spice is in _ as a lyric for the Lady in the Lake in the Broadway musical “Monty Python’s Spamalot.” Asked why the lyric was changed in the song “Diva’s Lament,” “Spamalot” author > Eric Idle > said Tuesday in an e-mail:
“Because we don’t laugh at sad people. Mike Nichols (the show’s director) requested it and he’s right. We changed the lyrics in London, on tour, on Broadway and in Las Vegas. We think that it’s now too sad. Britney Spears is being tortured to death and we don’t want to be on that side.”
I still wish that those who are left could get back together for some new work. It would be tough to beat the original insanity, but they could probably do it.
I’d actually prefer they not reunite. Much as I love Python and have followed and enjoyed much of what its constituent members have done in the years since their separation, to have them together without Graham Chapman (R.I.P.) is far too great an omission to allow it to be the same.
They were awarded something or aonther a few years ago at the Denver Comedy Festival (I think I recealled that right), and hearing them reminisce was wonderful. If they kept it in that vein, it might be worth seeing and hearing. On the upside - at that event, they did have GC represented by a funerary urn with his photo on it.
If you’ve not already done so, I always suggest people check out John Cleese’s eulogy for Graham Chapman. It’s a masterpiece of comedy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkxCHybM6Ek
There’s a 2-DVD set called Monty Python Live. It includes a tv interview with the group post-Chapman. Chapman is present, however, as a funerary urn set on the coffee table. It is inevitable that half way through the interview, someone suffers a brief leg spasm, kicks the urn flying, and Chapman’s ashes are sent up in a cloud all over the set, with the Pythons miming great upset and regret at this most unfortunate incident.
Good move!
