If You Are A Fan,

of Monty Python's,

Life of Brian, and I am, here is some good news, John Cleese Is resurrecting Monty Python’s ‘Life Of Brian’ as a stage show, according to original Python John Cleese. Cleese broke the news via Twitter, announcing that a first draft was complete, he added the new show is “Not a musical, as songs slow the pace down too much.” the British comedy icon aims to perform it in late 2022, pandemic permitting, from his Twitter account:

Today I finished the first draft of the script for the stage version of Life of Brian

Not a musical, as songs slow the pace down too much

Depending on Covid, we might be able to do it in the second half of next year

No Pythons in the cast. We've had enough die already

— John Cleese (@JohnCleese) July 4, 2021

originally released in 1979, Life of Brian followed the adventures of the hapless title character (played by Graham Chapman) as he is mistaken for the Messiah. Terry Jones’ legendary cry of “He’s not the messiah, he’s a very naughty boy!” has rung out ever since, I am not sure how in this PC age many of the jokes will go down, like this one,

here is the transcript,

(A huge Roman amphitheatre, sparsely attended.  REG, FRANCIS, STAN and JUDITH

 are seated in the stands.  They speak conspiratorially.)

 

Judith:  Any Anti-Imperialist group like ours must *reflect* such a

         divergence of interests within its power-base.

Reg:     Agreed.

         (General nodding.)

         Francis?

Francis: I think Judith's point of view is valid here, Reg, provided the

         Movement never forgets that it is the inalienable right of every

         man--

Stan:    Or woman.

Francis: Or woman...to rid himself--

Stan:    Or herself.

Reg:     Or herself.  Agreed.  Thank you, brother.

Stan:    Or sister.

Francis: Thank you, brother.  Or sister.  Where was I?

Reg:     I thought you'd finished.

Francis: Oh, did I?  Right.

Reg:     Furthermore, it is the birthright of every man ...

Stan:    Or woman.

Reg:     Why don't you shut up about women, Stan, you're putting us off.

Stan:    Women have a perfect right to play a part in our movement, Reg.

Francis: Why are you always on about women, Stan?

Stan:    (pause) I want to be one.

 

(pregnant pause)

 

Reg:    What?

Stan:   I want to be a woman.  From now on I want you all to call me Loretta.

Reg:    What!?

Stan:   It's my right as a man.

Judith: Why do you want to be Loretta, Stan?

Stan:   I want to have babies.

Reg:    You want to have babies?!?!?!

Stan:   It's every man's right to have babies if he wants them.

Reg:    But you can't have babies.

Stan:   Don't you oppress me.

Reg:    I'm not oppressing you, Stan -- you haven't got a womb.  Where's the

        fetus going to gestate?  You going to keep it in a box?

(Stan starts crying.)

Judith:  Here!  I've got an idea.  Suppose you agree that he can't actually

         have babies, not having a womb, which is nobody's fault, not even the

         Romans', but that he can have the *right* to have babies.

Francis: Good idea, Judith.  We shall fight the oppressors for your right to

         have babies, brother.  Sister, sorry.

Reg:     (pissed)  What's the *point*?

Francis:  What?

Reg:      What's the point of fighting for his right to have babies, when he

          can't have babies?

Francis:  It is symbolic of our struggle against oppression.

Reg:      It's symbolic of his struggle against reality.

I can imagine a few groups getting a bit hot under the collar about that one of many scenes in the film, but what a great film it is, hopefully it will transfer well to the stage.