Cleese plans Wanda musical
'We've knocked the story into shape'
John Cleese is planning to create a stage musical based on A Fish Called Wanda.He is working on the idea with his daughter Camilla, who was behind his previous decision to take a live solo show on the road in New Zealand.
Cleese said: ‘I've been working on it with my daughter. She's 24 and 6ft 2in. She's much funnier and quicker than I am, so I limp along after her.
‘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 lyricist in. Right now, we are just working on the story and trying to figure out where all the songs should go.’
He will be hoping the show will be as popular as Eric Idle's Monty Python musical, Spamalot, which has proved a hit across the world – especially as Cleese has an expensive upcoming divorce from Alyce Faye Eichelberger to pay for. He was recently ordered to pay her £75,000 a month in temporary maintenance.
Meanwhile, it has been announced that the London production of Spamalot will close on January 3, ahead of a UK tour which should start next April.
Published: 16 Jun 2008
