After a hugely successful West End and Broadway run, Spamalot has taken to theatres across the UK to “fart in the general direction” of Python fans everywhere.
It is, without doubt, a very silly production based on the classic 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Devised by Eric Idle, who has often been accused of ‘cashing in’ (undeniably true but who can blame him?) has ensured all film scenes are quoted to the letter, including his own hilarious cameo as God.
Absurdity reigns supreme as King Arthur travels to Camelot to call upon Sir Lancelot, Sir Galahad, Sir Bedevere and Not So Brave Sir Robin to aid him in his quest to find the Holy Grail.
Injected with a healthy dose of fresh fun - poked at the likes of Heather Mills, Jedward and Susan Boyle - King Arthur (Marcus Brigstocke) and his trusty companion Patsy (Todd Carty) drive along the preposterous plot with gusto as the Knights meet with a variety of weird and wonderful characters en route.
Those who have not had the pleasure of viewing The Knights Who Say “Ni”, the “English pigdog” taunting Frenchman and the ludicrously homicidal Black Knight the first time around could find themselves adrift as the audience sail along on a raft of mirth.
Belly laughs are raised by fleeting reference to the famous Spam sketch, the Killer Rabbit and the marvellous ditty “Always Look On The Bright Side of Life” is aired by a surprisingly fine-voiced Todd Carty, met with contented head bobbing and whistling from the crowd.
Spot-on comic timing and vocal talents of reality musical star of “I’d Do Anything” Jodie Prenger in her performance as diva-esque human manifestation of “watery tart” The Lady of The Lake were nothing short of superb.
Parodying nearly every musical ever written, the madcap ensemble each take on a solo, a highlight was Sir Robin’s (Samuel Holmes) playful “You Won’t Succeed On Broadway” - carefully adapted for tour - with the need for ‘Jews’ replaced with ‘Stars’ as the key to Arthur staging a successful musical. Don’t worry, it all makes sense while you’re there.
Unless you’ve had a sense-of-humour bypass, there’s little to hate in Spamalot. The all singing, all dancing extravagance of Vegas-style Camelot and powerful comedy ballads to the tune of “I’m Not Dead Yet” and “This is the Song that Goes Like This” go down a storm.
Spamalot draws you into its gleefully preposterous world as it bounds along to the sound of coconuts for horse’s hooves... but, stating the glaringly obvious, it simply isn’t the Pythons.
Much-loved sketches are delivered with great attention to detail but, through no fault of their own, the cast fail to hit the same comedic heights as Cleese, Palin and co. The Knights Who Say ‘Ni’ didn’t quite have the delivery right, which is sure to niggle at die-hard fans who may prefer to stick on the DVD.
Nitpicking aside - for the pressure of an audience knowing your lines just as well as you do must be unbearably intense - it is clear the cast are all hugely honoured to be uttering these words, bursting with energy and keen for their audience to enjoy the ridiculous ride.
Farcical from beginning to end, Python fans (and anyone needing an education in its uniquely daft brand of humour) will not be disappointed by the musical madness that is Spamalot.
7/10 Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, King Arthur, beans and Spam!
Tour Details
9 - 14 August
Liverpool Empire
13 - 18 September
Bristol Hippodrome
20 - 26 September
Woking New Victoria Theatre
27 September - 2 October
Northampton Royal & Derngate (Except 2 October)
18 - 23 October
Edinburgh Playhouse
25 - 30 October
Oxford New Theatre
8 - 13 November
Wycombe Swan Theatre
15 - 20 November
Bath Theatre Royal (Except 18 November)
22 - 27 November
York Grand Opera House (Except 25 November)
http://spamalotontour.co.uk/
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