Python Hyssssteria (chennailonline.com)

Papa(red tshirt,top),Sunil,Manoj,Jimmy,TMKarthik(with ears closed)

Python Hyssssteria’ marks a successful comeback of evam. With a brilliant star cast, great direction, simple sets and apt costumes, lights and music, all the ingredients of a successful production have been fulfilled.

Python Hyssssteria is a collection of Monty python’s 16 sketches from “The Flying Circus”. Fondly known as the ‘Beatles of comedy’, the Python’s (comprising of six men, one American and five English) inspired a whole generation of comedy writers and artists. They were an instant success in the UK with their unique approach to the works of Edward Lear, Oscar Wilde and Lewis Carroll.

No doubt, evam has rendered justice, showcasing the original work of the Python’s. Keeping all the nitty-gritty in mind, justice has been done not only to the sets but also to the costumes. The direction is commendable ensuring continuity despite 16 different plots requiring 16 different sets and characters.

The music is well chosen and adds weight to the dance sequence interspersed to change sets. The idea though unique, left more to be desired in terms of choreography. Focus on the costumes of the dancers would have added more grace to the dance. The sets were kept simple with some chairs and tables. The props included stuffed Pythons and a bird, which peered at the audience.

The lead cast includes Karthik k, Sunil Vishnu, Jimmy, Karthik Srinivasan, Manoj Nair and new talent like Ajai Titus and Amrita Ramkumar. The cast’s treatment of the comedy ensures that one is rolling with laughter.

The 16 acts vary greatly from one another guaranteeing no repetition. The sequences range from a disciplinarian Headmaster's nonchalance towards a student’s death due to excessive lashings at school to the unbelievable tales the characters come up with to describe their past lives of drudgery and poverty going to the extent of narrating their lives in a box.

This production is a MUST WATCH with the art of timing perfected to ensure that the humour is fresh and nerve tickling. This HSBC-sponsored production was presented at the Sivagami Petachi Auditorium from the 14th of January to the 18th of January 2004.