Best Bets / APRIL 30-MAY 6, 2000

Theater

Eric Idle’s new stage extravaganza, “Eric Idle Exploits Monty Python--A Rather Stupid Evening of Skits and Songs,” plays Universal Amphitheatre Friday. It includes the Rutland Sympathy Orchestra, Australian Drinking Quartet the Bruces and other wackies, and the most creatively dressed Python fan in the audience will be invited to play “Spot the Looney.”

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Ron Silver stars as rock impresario and humanitarian Bill Graham in the world premiere of “Bill Graham Presents.” Robert Greenfield’s solo play spans Graham’s childhood escape from Nazi Germany, his American music empire-building and his raising of millions for victims of injustice. Opens today at the Canon Theatre.

Movies

Director Ridley Scott depicts the glory (and the blood and guts) that was Rome in “Gladiator,” starring Russell Crowe in the title role, Joaquin Phoenix, Richard Harris and the late Oliver Reed. Opens Friday.

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Expatriates Kristin Scott Thomas and Sean Penn share a dark secret in Phillip Haas’ “Up at the Villa” in 1938 Florence. Opens Friday at selected theaters.

Pop Music

Nashville heads west this week, setting up camp around Wednesday’s Academy of Country Music Awards show at the Universal Amphitheatre. Associated activities include the sixth annual Sizzlin’ Country benefit concert at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank on Tuesday and a House of Blues show the same night by nominee Gary Allan.

Video

Former music video director Spike Jonze made his feature debut with “Being John Malkovich,” an audacious and dazzling satire on the fascination with fame. Penned by Charlie Kaufman, the comedy-drama stars John Cusack as a struggling puppeteer who discovers a portal into the brain of actor Malkovich, who plays himself. Oscar nominee Catherine Keener and Cameron Diaz also star in the critics’ favorite that comes out on video and DVD Tuesday.

Dance

Praised by the New York Times for “emotionally resonant choreography,” the award-winning Doug Varone and Dancers makes its first Los Angeles-area appearance Thursday and Friday at the Irvine Barclay Theatre. The program includes “Rise” (music by John Adams), “Bel Canto” (Vincenzo Bellini), “Home” (A. Leroy) and “Sleeping With Giants” (Michael Nyman).

Music

Written for his virtuoso pianist wife, Clara, Robert Schumann’s Piano Trios Nos. 2 and 3 are virtually neglected, but they return to a major spotlight this week thanks to the ensemble of violinist Christian Tetzlaff, his sister, cellist Tanja Tetzlaff and pianist Leif Ove Andsnes at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Wednesday.

Jazz

Joe Zawinul, famous as the former co-leader of Weather Report, has long been one of the main innovators of the synthesizer, developing new sounds and ideas for his instrument. Zawinul Syndicate, which combines jazz improvising with world music influences, will be at Royce Hall Friday.