In the light of Eric Idle’s great glittery success with Spamalot, it looks like fellow ex-Python John Cleese is trying his hand at writing a musical. Not to be outdone, Cleese is said to be in cahoots with his 24 year old daughter Camilla about penning the prospective production based on his 1988 film A Fish Called Wanda. Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, Cleese declared that: “We’ve knocked the story into shape. We’re going to try a few lyrics and if it turns out we are no good – which is what I expect – we’ll get a new lyricist in.”

‘Well’, I hear you gasp, ‘Wanda in the West End huh?’ To be honest we’re not sure how the film would translate to the stage this end either. Was there really enough scope in the (albeit very funny) script to squeeze in some song and dance numbers? I can remember Kevin Kline’s ghastly driving skills and poor old Micheal Palin getting a portion of the ole pommes frites jabbed up his nose, but any music?

Still, it’s not as if John Cleese isn’t one of the most respected comedy writers in the world… ever. A brief look at his back catalogue is like peering into Aladdin’s cave of TV gems. The Frost Report, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, Faulty Towers etc., reads like a roll call of the nation’s favourites doesn’t it? If anyone can pull off a musical adaptation of A Fish Called Wanda it’s got to be Mr (and Miss) Cleese surely.

Cleese was quick to relent last week that “It’s very early days yet” so who knows when this show could materialise? Here’s guessing at 2009 sometime but as for anything more specific?

What do you think? Reckon Cleese can knock out a musical to match the Spamalot boys? Or is he flogging a dead parrot with this one? Drop us a comment and let us know what you think…

Technorati Tags: a fish called wanda, a fish called wanda the musical, cleese, eric idle, john cleese, monty python, musical, spamalot, spamalot the musical, west end shows

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This entry was posted on Monday, June 23rd, 2008 at 12:11 pm and is filed under Theatre. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.