Not the Messiah: He's a Very Naughty Boy

Oh we are humble shepherds and our flocks we keep

There's nothing we like better than just watching sheep

We count them every day and night until we fall asleep

And then we count them once again cuz we love sheep

Brian Cohen has always been in the wrong place at the wrong time.  He was born in a stable nearby on the same day as Jesus Christ.  As a young man he is mistaken as a prophet, and is named as the Messiah, complete with crowds of adoring fans.  But all he wants is to fight the Romans, with the People's Front of Judea, and date / marry the pretty, outspoken Judith.

Told as a comic oratorio, based on "The Book of Brian" as narrated by Mrs. Betty Palin.  The story follows five performers, as they act out the narrative.  Beginning with the background and Brian's conception, the story follows the life of Brian Cohen.


After successfully transforming Monty Python and the Holy Grail into a Tony Award winning Broadway musical, collaborators Eric Idle and John Du Prez set their sights on Monty Python's Life of Brian.  The result is an impressive feat: the BBC Symphony and Chorus (several hundred musicians and singers), and four opera singers performing a musical retelling of the film.  It won't work for everyone, but any Python fan should check it out.

The film version (available through Netflix), is the October 23, 2009 performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London.  This performance is special: not only is it the opening night at the Royal Albert Hall, it is also the Ruby Jubilee Anniversary of Monty Python, and features guest appearances by Pythons Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones, and frequent collaborators Neil Innes and Carol Cleveland.

The songs and plot make more sense if you know the basic plot of The Life of Brian and some familiarity with the other works of Monty Python, including the BBC television show Monty Python's Flying Circus.  For example, during the song "The Temptation of Brian" his mother  wants to go to a stoning, and Brian calls her "father"... which makes more sense if you have seen the film.  Other songs have little references to Python sketches.

Most of the songs are available on YouTube.com.  Check out the song "You're the One."

It's not a musical, it's "a comic oratorio."

Not the Messiah: He's a Very Naughty Boy (2010) 92 minutes
Rating: PG for suggestive material and language
Director: Aubrey Powell
Starring: Eric Idle as Barton / various characters
Michael Palin as various characters
Terry Jones as various characters
Terry Gilliam as various characters
Carol Cleveland as various characters
Neil Innes as various characters
William Ferguson as Tenor / Brian Cohen
Shannon Mercer as Soprano / Judith
Rosalind Plowright as Mezzo / Mandy Cohen
Christopher Purves as Bass / various characters
John Du Prez is the Conductor