Don’t think a lot, you’re going to laugh a lot with “Spamalot”!
Like most of the characters you find in “Spamalot”, the Broadway-musical adaptation of “Monty Python’s Holy Grail,” I have my own proclivities toward singing (as I mentioned in my previous post) and dancing and acting. So, basically put: I love a good musical! This show, however, is a musical not only for those who love musicals, but also appeals to those who just want a good laugh – and laugh you most certainly do.
Before the show, while eating at Nosh, my friend admitted to me that she wasn’t really familiar with “Spamalot”. I, on the other hand, had seen the show back in 2005 with most of the original Broadway cast. Her fear was not being familiar with the show and my fear was that I had seen the show before on Broadway; therefore, would I still enjoy it as much? Luckily, neither of these worries lasted long once the show began. (Actually, we started enjoying ourselves well before the show began while reading the spoof program for Moosical: “Finns Ain’t What they Used to Be”, that proceeds the real program for the show and is utterly silly and witty, getting me in the mood for the silliness we were to be treated to.)
For those of you who aren’t familiar with the show but may recall the movie, those classic parts from the original movie such as: “Bring out your dead”, the knights who say “Ni”, and the taunting Frenchman, etc., are all still there along with new adaptations of familiar bits made for the stage by the original creators of the movie.
For those (like me) who are familiar with the show: know that the national tour transfers incredibly well from the original Broadway version. The sets, props, and wonderful costumes are very much the same (if not the exact same ones!). Also, it doesn’t drop any of the wonderful self referencing moments or references to other musicals, such as “Fiddler on the Roof” (basically all of “You Won’t Succeed on Broadway” or “Company” (“and another hundred people just contracted the plague” is still one of my favorite bits - though a very quick one- of this show) and pokes fun at just about every musical cliché with Monty Python’s classically British humor and cheeky charm.
Ultimately “Spamalot” captivates with its irreverent and witty book and clever songs, however, the national touring company cast must be commended for their excellent performances while bringing a densely packed laugh-a-minute musical to stage. Nearly the whole cast plays multiple parts and all of them look like they’re having a great time doing it.
My friend and I both agreed that the show was totally hilarious and I had a great time seeing this show again. I imagine that others - whether it was their first or tenth time seeing it – enjoyed it as much as we did. As the place was clearing out the audience was all smiles and overheard a woman saying “I couldn’t stop laughing!” – neither could we.
