In 1980 the wacky Monty Python crew played the Hollywood Bowl and took LA by storm. Eric Idle has returned to The Bowl with his brand of "very high lowbrow" entertainment. He has come with his partner, or collaborator, or mate - that's it, mate - John Du Prez. Flush with excessive pride, with a Tony Award and a Grammy for Spamalot, they looked around for a fresh target of musical mischief. What resulted is this madcap retelling of the Life Of Brian, the Pythons' hit movie, in oratorio form. It's hilarious.

Brian is a hapless lad, the product of a sexual dalliance between a Roman and a Jewess in Judea at the time of Christ. Word gets around that Brian is the long-awaited Messiah because he was born in a manger only a few steps from where Jesus was born. He falls for a radical named Judith who involves him in plots against the Roman occupiers. He is captured, but let go when the soldier guarding him falls on the ground in a giggling fit. Brian becomes a martyr for the downtrodden despite his objections that he is not the Messiah. Eventually he gets involved with a radical religious group, The Judean Peoples' Front, and is crucified for his trouble.

Its spoofing of the New Testament caused an uproar when the film was first released. It was banned in various communities around the world. People asked how could they make fun of the Messiah and the Crucifixion. Actually the movie wasn't making fun of God or Jesus at all, but of the hypocrisy of an organized religion that will bend any story to suit its particular agenda. Working with this now classic story (the movie was named "Greatest Comedy Ever Made" in a poll by UK Channel 4), Idle and Du Prez have now taken on that holiest of oratorios, Handel's "Messiah." They deconstruct the musical masterwork, adding their own words and ideas but retaining my favorite line from the "Messiah," "All We Like Sheep" - and giving it its own section complete with, you guessed it, sheep. Later on they throw in a complete Scots Pipe Band to underline the satire when Brian is declared the Messiah.

Eric Idle is the narrator and plays various other characters. John Du Prez conducted, and the soloists were Shannon Mercer, Jean Stilwell, William Ferguson, and Theodore Baerg. They were backed up by the Pacific Chorale which, along with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, seemed to immensely enjoy their participation. The evening concluded with spectacular fireworks and a rousing rendition of "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life." Not The Messiah played August 1 and 2 as part of the Hollywood Bowl's summer season.