Chicago Humanities Fest features funny man Eric Idle and a mighty “Monty Python” sing-a-long

Photos by Andy Argyrakis

The Chicago Humanities Fall Festival is in full swing throughout a multitude of local venues, featuring dozens of conversations centered around social justice, music, politics, literature, food, poetry, photography, architecture and much more.

In the case of the iconic Eric Idle, one of the leading men behind “Monty Python,” comedy was at the center of his heavily attended talk and sing-a-long at Cahn Auditorium on the campus of Northwestern University.

At 83-years-old, the actor/artist extraordinaire sure did have a lifetime’s worth of stories to share with interviewer Mary Dixon, host of WBEZ’s “Say More,” including meeting his wife of 49 years right here in the Windy City, plus those packed within the pages of the new memoir “Idle In Provence,” tracing how purchasing a crumbling “shackeau” in France allowed them to escape from the pressures of enormous fame and quite simply make some olive oil for loved ones.

Nevertheless, he had fans in stitches when recalling some of the movie and Broadway franchise’s classic scenes, in addition to revealing a bit about their collective writing process and an unbelievable tale of how buddy George Harrison from The Beatles went to extraordinary measures to finance “The Life Of Brian” when none of the traditional studios would take the risk.

There were also reflections on life in general, especially in the wake of personally beating pancreatic cancer by getting diagnosed extremely early its progression and remaining committed to the healing power of laughter.

Idle certainly lived up to that ethos by leading a rousing rendition of “Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life,” suggesting everyone’s best days are the ones ahead, and even when they’re dead, could at least still have it sung at their funeral to bring smiles to survivors’ faces.

It all added up to a fitting and humorlessly uplifting match to this annual arts marathon, which thankfully continues across a variety of discussions and disciplines around town, from former Talking Heads front man David Byrne to the cast of television’s “Twin Peaks” and tons more through Saturday, November 14.

For additional information on Eric Idle, visit EricIdle.com.

Chicago Humanities Fall Festival continues at various venues through Saturday, November 14. For additional details, visit ChicagoHumanities.org.