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The doggy bag will never catch on in Paris Cycling trip a great way to see Vietnam and Cambodia Life Cycling trip a great way to see Vietnam and Cambodia Sections * Film * Music * Books * Pipe Band Digest * Stage * Irish language Stories Tá bliain chorraitheach chinniúnach roimh Fhorbairt Feirste Irish language Tá bliain chorraitheach chinniúnach roimh Fhorbairt Feirste Raquel Pelzel has just the recipe for taking toast to the next level Arts Raquel Pelzel has just the recipe for taking toast to the next level Cult Movie: Day Of The Outlaw as much noir as Western Film Cult Movie: Day Of The Outlaw as much noir as Western Oscars 2016 - Ten great Irish Oscar moments Film Oscars 2016 - Ten great Irish Oscar moments Sections * Family Notices * Lives Remembered Stories Cocktail king Joe Gilmore, Belfast's barman to the stars Lives Remembered Cocktail king Joe Gilmore, Belfast's barman to the stars Lord Erne of Crom Castle was popular figure in Fermanagh Lives Remembered Lord Erne of Crom Castle was popular figure in Fermanagh ‘My brother loved to entertain with his music' Lives Remembered ‘My brother loved to entertain with his music' Falls Road artist was grand old man of sci-fi's golden age Notices Falls Road artist was grand old man of sci-fi's golden age Sections * Letters to the Editor * Leading article * Cartoons * Columnists Stories Arlene Foster right on Easter Rising and the Somme Columnists Arlene Foster right on Easter Rising and the Somme Election-mode Arlene Foster in old-school reshuffle Columnists Election-mode Arlene Foster in old-school reshuffle Cologne attacks highlight push to extremes Columnists Cologne attacks highlight push to extremes Time for a genuine Fresh Start at Stormont Leading article Time for a genuine Fresh Start at Stormont Sections * Photo of the Day * Graduation pictures * Picture galleries * Video diaries Stories Belfast Zoo animals enjoy the snow Picture Galleries Belfast Zoo animals enjoy the snow New Year celebrations from around the world Picture Galleries New Year celebrations from around the world Storm Frank lashes Ireland Picture Galleries Storm Frank lashes Ireland Harland & Wolff Welders win the Steel & Sons Cup 2015 Picture Galleries Harland & Wolff Welders win the Steel & Sons Cup 2015 (BUTTON) Irishnews Logo (BUTTON) * Login User / Logout * Subscriptions * Home * Today's paper * News Sections + Back + Northern Ireland news + UK News + Republic of Ireland news + World news + Political news + Education news + Healthcare news + Nama + Refugee Crisis * Sport Sections + Back + GAA Football + GAA Fixtures + Club Call + Hurling and camogie + Soccer + Boxing + Rugby + Golf + Athletics + Off The Fence + Racing + Opinion + Other Sports * Business Sections + Back + July Budget + Business news + Economics + Personal finance + Business columnists + Business Insight + Markets * Life Sections + Back + Family and Parenting + Property + Holidays & Travel + Fashion & Beauty + Motors/drive + Food & drink + Celebrity + Gardening + Environment + Health + Faith Matters + TV and Radio * Arts Sections + Back + Film + Music + Books + Pipe Band Digest + Stage + Irish language * Notices Sections + Back + Family Notices + Lives Remembered * Opinion Sections + Back + Letters to the Editor + Leading article + Cartoons + Columnists * Puzzles * Photos Sections + Back + Photo of the Day + Graduation pictures + Picture galleries + Video diaries * Our journalists * Horoscopes ____________________ (BUTTON) Search (BUTTON) Life Still looking on the bright side of life Still looking on the bright side of life * * * * * 17 July, 2014 00:00 Cult comedy act Monty Python will perform live together for the very last time this weekend. Jeananne Craig finds out why it's time for a change once the circus leaves town THE Monty Python stars have dusted off their dead parrot and are busy strutting their silly walks on stage, but for those who can't make it to London's O2 Arena, there's a chance to catch them on screen before they hang up their lumberjack gear for the very last time. More than four decades since the Flying Circus first hit screens, the comedy quintet have reunited for 10 Monty Python Live (Mostly) shows, featuring their best-loved surreal sketches and songs, alongside new material. And the 10th and final gig, featuring the fish-slapping, septuagenarian stars John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle and Terry Jones, will be shown live on the Gold channel and in cinemas around the world. "Our motto has been, 'Leave them wanting a bit less'," says Idle (71), who directed the extravagant stage show and penned its famous closing number, Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life, back in 1979. "It really is a very high-powered, energetic show. Especially for 70-year-old men," adds American-born Gilliam (73). "I like to think of it as a pre-posthumous memorial service, with all the dancing and joy one would hope for at a funeral." Monty Python's Flying Circus aired on TV between 1969 and 1974, and the act performed their last big stage show, a four-night stint at the Hollywood Bowl, in 1980. They also shared a stage at the Aspen Comedy Festival in 1998. Welshman Jones (72), breaks into laughter as he recalls the Hollywood Bowl gig: "All the audience were smoking marijuana, so when John and I went into the audience, we came out pretty high." These days, Palin jokes, the only drug involved is "some Viagra in our dressing rooms". The Pythons had originally planned to do one reunion show, but more dates were added as demand grew. The July 20 gig "really is the last show", Cleese (74), insists. "We all feel very content with that now. We weren't sure at one stage. I certainly thought it might be fun to go and do America but, the more I thought about it, I thought, 'I don't really want to'. "I think it's much better to try and do it once, really well, in England, where it started, and just leave it at that." Almost 45 years since Monty Python's Flying Circus first hit screens, Idle believes the material is still relevant. "We followed a satire boom in England and everything was topical. When we came on, we tried to not do that. "Our humour tends to be just general types and funny things rather than particular, and so it doesn't date as fast." The team admit it's been hard work performing the high-octane shows at a 20,000-seater venue. "I'm quite worn out, even after the first number," says Palin (71). "A slight madness takes over you and you just leap about at certain points. Well I do, anyway." "It's the next day you realise what you've done to your body," filmmaker Gilliam adds. * SNAKES ALIVE: The Monty Python high flyers n continues overleaf * * * * * 17 July, 2014 00:00 Life More in Life Eating Out: The goodness is in the food at Goodness Rocks Eating Out: The goodness is in the food at Goodness Rocks TV Review: Cold War spy thriller Deutschland 83 TV Review: Cold War spy thriller Deutschland 83 Raquel Pelzel has just the recipe for taking toast to the next level Raquel Pelzel has just the recipe for taking toast to the next level Most Read * Beware of tax on gifting property to family members * Increase in babies born with 'tongue-tie' * Diagnosing Dyspraxia in your child * Irishman in breastfeeding London Underground row Today's horoscope Horoscope __________________________________________________________________ See a different horoscope: [Select sign] Stay connected Get the day's headlines delivered directly to your inbox ____________________ (BUTTON) Sign Up __________________________________________________________________ Sections News PSNI 'hasn't acted on Lisa Dorrian burial information' 1. PSNI 'hasn't acted on Lisa Dorrian burial information' 2. Families question delays in charging 'Stakeknife' Life Cycling trip a great way to see Vietnam and Cambodia 1. Cycling trip a great way to see Vietnam and Cambodia 2. Cairn Wood: Battle to save amenity from being sold off Business ‘The Jungle' named ‘thrilling' at Outdoor NI Awards 1. ‘The Jungle' named ‘thrilling' at Outdoor NI Awards 2. Northern Ireland's top buildings come under the spotlight Arts Raquel Pelzel has just the recipe for taking toast to the next level 1. Raquel Pelzel has just the recipe for taking toast to the next level 2. Catch up with: The X-Files on Amazon Prime Columnists Arlene Foster right on Easter Rising and the Somme 1. Arlene Foster right on Easter Rising and the Somme 2. Election-mode Arlene Foster in old-school reshuffle Sport Ross McGowan leads Joburg Open at the halfway point 1. Ross McGowan leads Joburg Open at the halfway point 2. Darren Clarke delighted as Europe claim three-point lead Tackle today's puzzles Crosswords From gentle to deadly - Crosswords, Suduko, Codewords, Wordwheels and quizzes Irishnews Logo * Supplements * Send us your story * Contact us * FAQ * About us * Our Journalists * Photo Sales * Careers * WEA * Memoriam Cards * Coaching Days