Members of Monty Python at the “Meet and Greet” after the O2 show Monty Python Live (Mostly) on July 5th. (Picture by Loretto Leary)
You’d have to have a heart of stone not to find most of the jokes, songs and skits of the Monty Python Live (Mostly) performance at the O2 arena in London funny.
True fans, like myself, will laugh heartily at what we have now heard at least fifty times if not more.
I own Monty Python Sings, actually I bought it twice: on cassette and later on CD. I own all the Monty Python’s Flying Circus shows on DVD and all of their movies. Not alone that, but I also bought all of Michael Palin’s Travels on DVD, Terry Jones’ history DVD’s and John Cleese’s Fawlty Towers, in addition to A Fish Called Wanda. I have their official biography as well as unofficial stuff.
Am I an uber fan? Yes and no. I didn’t attend the July 5th performance dressed as a Lumberjack or Gumby. But I was willing to pay 496 pounds to attend the performance, three rows from the front, and the “Meet and Greet.”
Closing scene of Monty Python Live (Mostly) at the July 5th performance at the O2 Arena in London (Picture by Loretto Leary)
Now to be very fair about it, I like to attend Broadway plays and am willing to pay top dollar for top plays, such as All the Way with Bryan Cranston. So, being a big fan of Monty Python I am willing to pay at least 200 pounds sterling, that’s about $300, to attend the show. And it was worth every penny.
However, the meet and greet package was 496 pounds sterling. That’s a lot of money. But, for big time fans, if you “meet and greet” the individual members of Monty Python then it is worth it. Unfortunately the format for the meet and greet changed. I was informed by email two days before the performance. I would not have paid extra for the meet and greet had it been advertised accurately.
When I attended the show on Saturday July 5th the meet and greet was after the show, not before as originally advertised. Instead of a meet and greet it was now a question and answer session. Paying 496 sterling, regardless of the one free drink offered, was way too much money.
for 496 pounds sterling, Meet and Greet attendees received a T-shirt, a mug, and a book. The larger program cost extra. (Meet and Greet package items for Monty Python Live (Mostly) attendees picture by Loretto Leary)
Each meet and greet guest was gifted a book, a mug and a T-shirt. At the performance I also bought a program of sorts for over 10 sterling, I think, maybe even more!
So, for my very quick review I would say that the performance itself was well worth the money, especially if you are a fan. But the meet and greet was over-priced and disappointing.
For a more detailed review please stay tuned! I’ll be posting one here later on and also on Page, Stage and Screen with more pictures and videos.
Breise! Breise! Extra! Extra! 
Gosh that was disappointing! A friend of ours flew over for the performance on 4th July… and got to actually meet the guys… he’s shown us lots of selfies with the crew 🙂 I doubt very much that he paid that much… but will ask.
I wish they had given us the opportunity to cancel the meet and greet. I have attended Broadway plays where the Q&A was included in the ticket price, and the actors stayed longer than 20 minutes. Very pricey for a Q&A and the fact that they changed it without giving attendees the opportunity to get refunded was very bad form.
We were there on July 3 – it was only a 15 minute q&a. I asked the final question of the night, and after Terry Jones responded the moderator rushed them off the stage – Terry Gilliam and John Cleese both looked at me like they were sorry they were not allowed to respond.
Later That evening, I saw pictures and reports from the first night (July 1). There was a receiving line where all the meet n greet guests were able to say a few words with each member, get autographs and finally have a professional photographer take a group photo.
I have sent complaints to the O2 and AXS (where I purchased tickets) as well as Phil McIntyre Entertainment, the promoter, and to date have had no resolution.
It was really a dream come true to see them live – I would still have paid top dollar to see the show. However, to advertise and charge for a meet and greet and not deliver was very disappointing and I feel deceived.
Thanks for responding. I am certain this was a promoter issue. The Monty Python members would definitely not want this kind of negative review. The show itself was top notch, but the meet and greet was not at all delivered in the same way as it was advertised. I’ll keep promoting this blog post and ask that you and other disappointed fans do the same. In addition I will contact the promoter as well as O2 to see if there can be a resolution. We certainly did not get the “product” the promoters promised and I wanted to let others who might still be considering paying the high price know that it is not worth it. Thanks for reading and responding and keep passing the message along.
Reblogged this on I am an Author, I Must Auth and commented:
Monty Python, ah.
Hey, I completely share the feelings of you guys. The show was perfect the meet and greet was completely not worth the money. Especially considered that on the 1. of July, you were able to get autographs, speak and touch (wink wink nudge nudge) the pythons, and then 3 days later nothing. Please keep on hasseling the promoter about this. This is fraud!
Joerg from Cologne
Joerg, Please join our facebook group and email BBC programme Rip Off Britain. A poster on FB has just mentioned that Phil McIntyre Entertainment has sent them signed merchandise because the person complained that the meet and greet was a rip off. Many of us have called Phil McIntyre Entertainment numerous times and emailed them and we got nothing. So there are now inconsistencies in how they have handled this issue.