Not the Messiah

If you love Monty Python, you don't mind that they keep repackaging and rereleasing their old material.  But even better than a new "best of" DVD is when they actually do produce something new.  A few years ago, Spamalot was a Broadway hit, mixing songs and some of the story of Monty Python and the Holy Grail with some other MP classic skits and a bit of new.  I had a great time watching by dad come to tears, laughing at their craziness.

Not the Messiah follows up on the success of Spamalot.  They haven't toured much with it; as far as I know, it was only performed a few times.  But it lives on forever on DVD and CD.  The title comes from a line in the MP movie, The Life of Brian, in which Brian's mother tries to get the crowd outside their home to leave.  "He's not the messiah," she screams, "He's a very naughty boy!" 

It almost looks like a legitimate oratorio.

The other meaning of the title is a reference to Handel's Messiah.  Not the Messiah, an oratorio roughly in the tradition of Handel's Messiah, is performed by a huge choir, full orchestra, and several soloists, but with the addition of sheep and lumberjacks.  There are moments where the style is classical, but mostly it's rock inspired or Broadway musical style.

Like The Life of Brian, it's rather, shall we say, unorthodox.  I don't think it's totally heretical, but it's certainly not suitable for Sunday services.  Monty Python fans will love it; non-fans might be mildly amused, but, as enjoyable as it was, it served more to bring nostalgia for the MP golden years than to add to their oeuvre.

I bet this is the first time a concert at Royal Albert Hall feature life-sized sheep puppets.

One song struck me as accidentally insightful.  Again, not suitable for Sunday services, but in a weird sort of way I think it communicates the grandeur of God.  I am thankful that I am no longer smelly and stupid and cheesy and spotty and naughty in God's sight, since I have been cleansed by Jesus' blood, but the song does recognize what a mess we are without God's saving grace.

O God you are so big
You are so very huge
My word what a size you are
And we are tiny in thy sight
So very small and very grotty
And smelly and stupid and cheesy and spotty
You are so big
We are so small
You are so huge
We are so tiny
You are so big
And we are naughty in thy sight
O god you are so big
You are so very huge
My word what a size you are
And we are tiny in thy sit
So very small and very grotty

And smelly and stupid and cheesy and spotty

You are so big

We are so small

You are so huge

We are so tiny

You are so big 

And we are naughty in thy sight.

Bottom line, if you're a Python fan, 4 stars.  If not, maybe 2.  If you are a Christian who is easily offended, negative 1 star.