One Month Until Python

Next month the surviving Monty Python members reunite onstage for the first time in almost 35 years – and, they say, the last time ever. Fans understandably want to see the anarchic comedy troupe’s classic skits. They’re hoping for Spam, lumberjacks, dead parrots and of course the red-robed cardinals who burst in to proclaim: “Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!”

Troupe member Eric Idle assures fans they will get the old favorites – but they are also in for surprises.

“I’ve got one or two up my sleeve that will absolutely freak people out,” said Idle, who has taken the lead on assembling the 10 performances at London’s O2 Arena.

The “Monty Python Live (mostly)” shows will take place between July 1 and July 20, with the final performance beamed live into movie theaters worldwide – including hundreds in the United States. More screenings are planned on July 23, 24 and Aug. 6. Tickets for the U.S. screenings were going on sale Monday.

THE NUMBERS (MUSICAL AND OTHERWISE)

“It’s not five old guys on a stage doing old sketches,” Idle said of the show, which has a budget of $3.5 million. He spoke by phone to The Associated Press from Seattle.

The 15,000-seat stadium will be filled with the help of a live orchestra, film footage, special effects and Terry Gilliam’s surreal animation. There will be plenty of “rude songs and rude dancing” from an ensemble of 20 singers and dancers – the approach Idle adopted during his performance at the 2012 Olympics closing ceremony.

“Who wants to look at a bunch of old guys? Put some attractive young people onstage,” said Idle, at 71 the youngest of the group. “That’s my Broadway background. It’s what I learned from ‘Spamalot.’”

The sixth member of Monty Python, Graham Chapman, died of cancer in 1989 but will be present in recorded form. Carol Cleveland, who appeared regularly on the Pythons’ 1970s TV show, will also take part.

“It’s a revue – ‘Deja Revue,’ as I call it,” Idle said.

“What I’ve tried to do is make a sort of necklace – and we’ll be the jewels. I’ve tried to make it segue into each other like the old Python shows used to do.”

A FEW SURPRISES

Idle began by asking Gilliam, Michael Palin, John Cleese and Terry Jones for their favorite Python nuggets. “I’ve tried to do things we’ve never done onstage as well,” he said.

“Python has always tried to push the expectation level, and just be a little bit more than they could possibly hope for. I think that’s one of its secrets – it’s always been, ‘Well this will really surprise them.’”

Idle says he’s looking forward to the live transmission’s potential for chaos. “You don’t normally have that opportunity to dry and be embarrassing and hopeless onscreen.”

COMIC CAMARADERIE

Idle said the atmosphere among the five group members was “delightful” – though Gilliam, now a film and opera director, branded the reunion “depressing” in a recent British newspaper interview.

“I think he’s the most insecure about being in it,” Idle said. “He isn’t really a comedian.

“But of course his animations are staggering, and at 80 feet wide they look great.”

The five comedians have had their disagreements over the years — but, crucially, they still make one another laugh.

“I think everybody is much mellower, and happy,” Idle said. “People are very funny about each other. And sometimes people think we are attacking each other, but it actually is not that. It’s permission to say anything, which is lovely.”

Idle said he was “wonderful” to watch comedy partners Cleese and Palin during a read-through for the farewell show.

“I could watch them all evening. It doesn’t matter that I know the stuff. They’re just funny. And that’s what will make it special.”

A LAST LAUGH

All the members of Monty Python have had busy solo careers, taking in television, movies, theater, books and opera. They’ve reunited because – to be blunt – they needed money. The five were left with a large legal bill last year after losing a lawsuit brought by movie producer Mark Forstater over royalties from the stage musical “Spamalot.”

“We were in a mess,” Idle said, until an adviser suggested putting on a show to clear the debt. “It changed everything round, and everybody got excited.”

But he says it will never happen again.

“It’s the last shout,” Idle said. “A) We’re extremely old and b) it takes a lot to get this sort of thing together. Everybody has other things they like to do.”

BLAME CANADA

With just under a month until the July 1 kickoff, Idle has one gripe. It’s about the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, whose scarlet tunics are essential to a famous skit featuring a singing, cross-dressing lumberjack.

“The Mounties have seized all Mountie uniforms throughout the world, so you can’t get them anymore,” Idle said. “But we’re not going to be stopped from doing ‘The Lumberjack Song’ no matter what they do. So we may be up for extradition.”