By Xiao-bo Yuan
October 03, 2003
In an effort to bring major comedic acts to campus, the Hopkins Organization for Programming (HOP) has booked Eric Idle, a former member and cofounder of the legendary British comedy troupe Monty Python, for a performance at Shriver Hall on Nov. 4.
The commissioning of Idle was a pleasant surprise for the members of HOP, who managed to obtain the comedian without actively pursuing him when Upfront Productions, an outside promoter, contacted them with an offer.
The promotional package -- which is similar to the deal that brought spoken-word performer Henry Rollins to Hopkins last year -- gives HOP access to a mainstream act with significant name recognition while leaving production expenses to the private promoters.
Because of the relatively low cost of renting college venues, such deals are often both profitable for promoters and convenient for campus programmers.
Dan Rosenthal, a HOP cochair along with junior Jared Covit, expressed high expectations for Idle's appearance.
"Just like Hopkins kids listen to classic rock, they watch Monty Python," Rosenthal said. "It's classic comedy. While last year's Henry Rollins was a bit more underground, Eric Idle happens to be more mainstream."
But like last year's sold-out Rollins performance, in which Hopkins students only comprised approximately ten percent of the audience, HOP expects that most tickets to Idle's performance will still be sold off-campus.
However, Rosenthal promised that, in order to accommodate growing demand, more tickets would be available for students this year than were available for the Rollins show last year.
Although the cost of tickets for students has yet to be determined, Rosenthal predicts it will be somewhere around $15, while ticket costs for outside attendees will likely exceed $25.
"Idle's performance is a step towards diversifying campus programming," Rosenthal said, "simply because we haven't had an appearance by a major comedian recently."
The 60-year-old Idle is best known for his role in the zany and irreverent comedy troupe Monty Python, whose brand of silliness coupled with satire has endured for decades after the group formed at Cambridge University.
The performance at Shriver will be a part of Idle's "Greedy Bastard" Tour, a road show planned in part to promote of the release of his most recent comedy CD, "The Rutland Isles."
The tongue-in-cheek title continues Idle's sly mockery of his own willingness to ride on the coattails of Python fame -- a theme that has sustained the performer since his last outing in America, "Eric Idle Exploits Monty Python."
Considered the "matinee idol" of the group, Idle co-wrote comedic staples such as Monty Python and Quest for the Holy Grail and the popular TV series, Monty Python's Flying Circus.
Beyond the Python legacy, Idle has had a career that has touched upon nearly every entertainment medium in existence including stints as a scriptwriter, novelist, producer, director and composer on various radio, TV and theater programs.
In the past, Idle's live performances have served as revivals of the flamboyant comedy-vaudeville style that first launched his career, involving numerous costume changes, raunchy audience sing-a-longs, and sketches performed with the other dozen or so performers joining him on tour.
HOP plans to bring another popular comedian on-campus early in the spring semester, while continuing to welcome varied ideas from the new members who have joined the organization this year.
