John Cleese at Sydney Opera House just for laughs
The 71-year-old 'Monty Python' star is in town, but he's not being very funny yet
John Cleese hasn't been very funny in Sydney -- but at least he's being bitter with a smile.
Particularly when he’s crying poor.
John Cleese has rolled into town for the "Just For Laughs" festival at the Sydney Opera House and at the ripe old age of 71, he doesn’t find much very funny anymore.
"One of the sad things about doing comedy for 40 years is there's less and less you find original, just because you know so much," Cleese told The Australian. "As you get older you see things and you think, that's fine. It's just that I've seen 25 things like it in my life."
Well, that sounds like a barrel of laughs.
But ready to perform under the Harbour City’s architectural sails, Cleese has opened up about the real reason he’s in Australia: he’s sold his house in California, has rising legal expenses and has to settle an alimony case with his estranged ex-wife.
Ha, ha. Right. That wasn’t funny. Where’s the punch line, John?
Well, he’s leaving the United States. “It’s not a safe place … it’s out of control,” he said, while ranting about the ills of the Republican Party and the war on terror.
For crying out loud, John, tell us a joke. OK, how’s this?
He has succeeded in the face of the critics, who said "Monty Python" and "Fawlty Towers" were no good. “Very few people, executives, critics or whoever, have any idea what they’re talking about,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald.
OK, so you're here to get people depressed?
He said, these days, he’s more proud of being able to write than act, “the irony is that it’s so badly paid.”
Mmm. Or maybe you're saving those laughs for when you perform at the Opera House on Saturday night, alongside Canadian Martin Short in a comedy gala?
“I’m hoping for laughs,” Cleese said.
Boom, boom.
Just for Laughs Comedy Festival, 2011
Dylan Moran, Thursday 1 September, 8 p.m. and Sunday September 4, 9:15 p.m. Concert Hall
Martin Short, Friday September 2, 7 p.m. Concert Hall
Margaret Cho, Friday September 2, 9:30 p.m. Concert Hall
The International Comedy Gala headlined by John Cleese, Saturday 3 September, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Concert Hall
Louis C.K., Sunday September 4, 7 p.m. Concert Hall
Russell Howard, Sunday September 4 7:30 p.m. Opera Theatre
Demetri Martin, Sunday September 4, 9:30 p.m. Opera Theatre
Sydney Opera House, +61 (0)2 9250 7777, www.sydneyoperahouse.com
