‘Monty Python’ Star John Cleese Says ‘Life Of Brian’ Scene Won’t Be Cut Despite Modern Sensitivites
The Monty Python crew always looked on the bright side of life when it came to the classic film parody. life of brian.
But Monty Python star John Cleese insists he never said he would remove a politically incorrect scene from a stage adaptation life of brianalthough the sensibility of the 1979 film won’t elicit quite as many laughs as it once did due to increased awareness of transgender issues.
Cleese claims it was “misreported” that he planned to edit the “Loretta” scene for an upcoming stage adaptation of the religious satirical film. Instead, he said he had “no intention” of removing it.
In the scene in question, a male character states that he wants to be a woman named “Loretta” and have a child. Cleese’s character tells the man the idea is ridiculous, while another suggests that they all support his right to have children.
“I want to be a woman… That’s my right as a man,” the character asserts. “I want to have babies… It’s every man’s right to have babies if he wants them.” Upon Cleese’s protest, the character snaps, “Don’t oppress me!”
Obviously, times have changed the impact of this humor.
Cleese is said to have asked American actors at a reading whether the “Loretta” scene should be deleted. He was reportedly told that the joke no longer fits these times.
“So here you have something that in 40 years there hasn’t been a complaint that I’ve heard of and now all of a sudden we can’t do it because it would offend people. What to make of it?”
Cleese said in a tweet that his comments were meant to reflect the recommendations, not that he would actually make the cut.
“A few days ago I spoke to an audience outside of London. I told them I would adjust that life of brian so we could do it as a stage show (NOT a musical). I said that a year ago we had a table reading of the latest draft in NYC and that all the actors – including some Tony winners – had urged me to cut the Loretta scene. Of course, I have no intention of doing that.”
