Not the Messiah (he's a very naughty boy)

Hallelujah - Brian has risen and move over Handel! Monty Python superstar Eric Idle and collaborator & celebrated conductor John Du Prez, the duo that unleashed Spamaloton the world, hits Auckland for two nights only with their latest rambling adventure – Not the Messiah (He’s a Very Naughty Boy) -a comic oratorio inspired by Monty Python’s Life of Brian.

“Shorter than Handel, funnier than Handel, but obviously not as good theologically." Eric Idle

It’s a night of baroque n’ roll on a grand scale, with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Viva Voce, bagpipers and classical soloists, all hosted by the Python frontman Eric Idle as narrator – a baritone-ish soloist reprising some of his best-loved roles from the film, including Mr Cheeky, a man in the crowd who asked if Mandy is a virgin, and the Lead Singer Crucifixee.

Expect pop, Welsh hymns, country and western, doo-wop, hip hop, Broadway, Greek chorus, Idle as Bob Dylan in his mumbling, electric guitar and harmonica phase, Idle beat-boxing to Hail to the Shoe (sung to the tune of theHallelujah Chorus) and, of course, a raucous final singalong to Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life.