gistfile1.py

f1 = lambda a: a + 1.
f2 = lambda a: 1. / a
f3 = lambda a: 2. * a

apply_ = lambda *funs: lambda arg: funs[0](arg) if len(funs) == 1 \
                                    else funs[-1](apply_(*funs[:-1])(arg))

t1 = apply_(f1, f2, f3)
print t1(-2.)
try:
    print t1(-1.)
    assert False
except ZeroDivisionError:
    pass

print apply_(f3, f1, f2)(1.)