If your biggest issue with java is about restarting containers/redeploying your app, you should check out JRebel (http://zeroturnaround.com/jrebel). It's a tool (javaagent) that will pick up changes you make to your code and introduce them in your running application. Unlike Play! it supports your application server and your framework stack.

Also it supports picking up changes in the configuration of major frameworks, like spring, for example.

Basically, with JRebel you can develop in java as you would do in python :)

disclaimer: I'm employed by the company that develops JRebel, but this fact doesn't make it any less awesome.