[LMB] OT: Monty Python's Spamalot Review [kinda long]

[Noel Rappin]

I thought this might be of some general interest to some listees...

Monty Python's Spamalot is the new musical "lovingly ripped off" from
Monty Python and the Holy Grail.  Book is by Eric Idle, who also
co-wrote the music.  The leads are Tim Curry, Hank Azaria, and David
Hyde Pierce.  It's directed by Mike Nichols.  So, a lot of talent
involved.

It's currently previewing in Chicago en route to Broadway.  I saw it
Saturday night (it was, I believe, their fourth night of performance).
 I thought some of you might be interested in knowing how it looks. 
I'll try not to give away any of the surprises...

Overall, it's a very funny show with a lot of potential and a couple
of problems that can probably be fixed before it officially opens. 
Idle has kept the tone of the original and most of the best bits,
jettisoned some of the less-memorable stuff (though admittedly it's
been a while since I've seen the original movie), and bolted on some
satire of Broadway shows.  For the most part, the new stuff is very
funny.  The book is a bit more cohesive as a story than the movie is. 
The performances are also quite good.  I'm looking forward to the
eventual cast album, which should be a blast.

On the down side, the first act drags a bit, they probably need to cut
a number or two.  Some of the satire and staging is derivative of the
"The Producers" and I expect better from Idle and Nichols.  Saying
that the book is more cohesive than the movie doesn't mean it's
actually cohesive.  A couple of the big numbers don't have the impact
they should.

Tim Curry plays King Arthur, and he's great.  Charisma to burn, great
voice, and the general air of a guy who is really enjoying himself. 
Hank Azaria takes most of the John Cleese roles (Lancelot, French
Taunter, Knight of Ni...), and throws himself into them head first --
he's a particularly good Taunter.  Unfortunately for him, his big
number was one of the flat ones.  David Hyde Pierce takes mostly Eric
Idle parts (Sir Robin, the guard in the "you want us to let him leave"
bit, etc...).  He's one of my favorite comic actors to watch, and he's
very funny.  Don't really know if he can sing, though.  His big
number, though very funny, was largely a patter song.

A couple of the featured players were very good.  Christopher Seiber
takes the Michael Palin roles (Dennis/Galahad, the "huge tracts of
land" guy), and he's great.  But the real gem is Sara Ramirez, who
plays a very expanded Lady of the Lake (complete with her own Laker
Girls).  Not only does she have several of the funniest numbers in the
show, she pretty much steals every scene she is in.

The crowd had enough hardcore Python fans that there was audience
laughter _before_ several of the jokes.  I thought "Bright Side of
Life" (which Idle manages to shoehorn in) was going to turn into a
singalong...

A couple of the movie bits that you are thinking "they couldn't manage
that on stage", they do pull off.  Including the cow and the catapult
(the cow has a song, actually), and the knights battle with all the
limbs popping off.  I won't say how they do it...

Overall, there's enough pure silly that even people who are not Python
fans should like it.  It should be successful in NY, although I'm a
lousy judge of that, so who knows....

Noel, hoping this is interesting to somebody...

-- 
Noel Rappin
noelrappin at alumni.brandeis.edu