by Cookie N Screen
Monty Python has conquered many feats in comedy. They have a collection of incredible films that make us titter, a television series of oddball yet intelligent sketches, they have damn catchy songs and they took to the stage for a series of live shows. However, while they may have toe tapped across the wooden footsteps of the stage before, they never really launched into proper theatrical domination until 2004 when Eric Idle (the musical maestro of Monty Python) decided to create Spamalot. And thus, the Lord decreed that there was nothing Monty Python couldn’t do and blessed the world with ten years of Spamalot. And it was good.
Monty Python has conquered many feats in comedy. They have a collection of incredible films that make us titter, a television series of oddball yet intelligent sketches, they have damn catchy songs and they took to the stage for a series of live shows. However, while they may have toe tapped across the wooden footsteps of the stage before, they never really launched into proper theatrical domination until 2004 when Eric Idle (the musical maestro of Monty Python) decided to create Spamalot. And thus, the Lord decreed that there was nothing Monty Python couldn’t do and blessed the world with ten years of Spamalot. And it was good.
Based on The Holy Grail, Spamalot follows King Arthur and his quest for the titular cup. As he gathers knights together, he must face a series of challenges in order to prove to God that he is worthy of the quest. On the way, he meets a terrible beastly rabbit, an arrogant black knight, the lady of the lake and some fish slapping villagers. But can Arthur overcome all this in order to find the Grail?
For fans of the troop, Spamalot is an accomplishment. Heavily taking the best parts of Monty Python and adapting them for the stage is no easy feat but here, the creators of the show have established a hilarious balance. Scenes from The Holy Grail are enhanced with the magic of the theatre as they ingeniously cover the Black Knight and more. And it helps if you have a cast who can provide the laughs, be intellectually silly as well as being able to sing. The comedy comes from the core of the characters and having an effectively good ensemble takes Spamalot from a good musical and into a great one.
For fans of the troop, Spamalot is an accomplishment. Heavily taking the best parts of Monty Python and adapting them for the stage is no easy feat but here, the creators of the show have established a hilarious balance. Scenes from The Holy Grail are enhanced with the magic of the theatre as they ingeniously cover the Black Knight and more. And it helps if you have a cast who can provide the laughs, be intellectually silly as well as being able to sing. The comedy comes from the core of the characters and having an effectively good ensemble takes Spamalot from a good musical and into a great one.
The best part about Spamalot is the music. Idle, alongside Neil Innes and John Du Prez, have placed a collection of favourite songs with some brand new ones that our equal parts catchy and fun. Of course, Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life is here but so are new incredible songs such as The Diva’s Lament, The Song That Goes Like This and His Name Is Lancelot. The music is every bit as Broadway as famed shows like Les Miserables but it is also every bit as Monty Python as they can get. Lyrical and hysterical, the songs are unforgettably well done.
Nowadays, you’ll find Spamalot in the sleepy parts of London, still seeing a moderate stream of fans come by to indulge in the tunes. Unfortunately, several parts of the original musical have been changed. You’ll no longer be able to hear You Won’t Succeed In Broadway being an ode the Judaism in the business. It’s been adapted to mimic the culture of today, talking more about Britain’s Got Talent rather than its satirical original feel. But with the right cast (and the right audience) Spamalot is still a riot, hilarious and entertaining to the very end.
A must see for Monty Python fans.
Nowadays, you’ll find Spamalot in the sleepy parts of London, still seeing a moderate stream of fans come by to indulge in the tunes. Unfortunately, several parts of the original musical have been changed. You’ll no longer be able to hear You Won’t Succeed In Broadway being an ode the Judaism in the business. It’s been adapted to mimic the culture of today, talking more about Britain’s Got Talent rather than its satirical original feel. But with the right cast (and the right audience) Spamalot is still a riot, hilarious and entertaining to the very end.
A must see for Monty Python fans.
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