Monty Python's Spamalot Tickets
Shubert Theatre Schedule & Information - Broadway Musical Tickets

Monty Python's Spamalot Review

By Frank Scheck
Bottom line: A theatrical franchise is born with this frequently hilarious musical adaptation of "Monty Python and the Holy Grail."


Shubert Theatre,
New York
Runs indefinitely

Like rabid fans at a rock concert cheering the opening notes of their favorite songs, the audiences for "Monty Python's Spamalot" arrive prepared to pay homage. The show is based on the comedy team's cult classic film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," and familiar routines and bits from the movie are greeted with riotous laughter and applause with their opening lines.

That adoration is likely to generate the musical, directed by Mike Nichols, into one of Broadway's top hits, and later a very lucrative life on the touring circuit. Although sometimes ragged in its execution and less than polished in its production aspects, there's enough hilarity on display to keep Python fans, and they are legion, in stitches for a very long time.

Featuring a book and score by Eric Idle (John Du Prez collaborated on the music), the show lovingly re-creates the irreverent, anarchic and yes, disjointed comic style of its inspiration. While the results sometimes play like a college production, Nichols' canny, detail-filled staging keeps things rolling at a merry pace, and the proceedings, which run a mere two hours, don't wear out their welcome.

A top-flight cast has been assembled to replace the classic Python team. Tim Curry is marvelously droll as King Arthur; David Hyde Pierce is hilariously effete as Sir Robin, who dreams of a life as a song and dance man; and Hank Azaria, besides playing Sir Lancelot, proves an invaluable player in his multiple, many accented characterizations. Also providing terrific comic turns are Christopher Sieber, as Galahad, among others; Michael McGrath as Arthur's loyal and literally named Patsy; and the powerfully voiced and absolutely terrific Sara Ramirez in a role created especially for the show, the Lady of the Lake (who has her own team of Laker Girls).

Spamalot Plot
Plotting, needless to say, is not the musical's strong point, as is made evident by an opening nonsensical prologue set in Finland. Mainly, it revolves around Arthur's quest for the Holy Grail and his and his knights' encounters with a variety of obstacles, including the French Taunter ("I fart in your general direction"); the Black Knight, who keeps on fighting despite having all of his limbs hacked off, and, of course, the notorious killer rabbit.

These familiar bits, which are as funny onstage as they were in the film, are augmented with new material and a mostly new score, though a pair of numbers from "Holy Grail," as well as "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" (from "Life of Brian") are reprised. The new songs are melodic and witty in the typical Idle fashion, with highlights including "The Song That Goes Like This" and "Find Your Grail." Much of the humor is satirical of contemporary Broadway, the chief example being "You Won't Succeed on Broadway," the punch line of which won't be revealed here.

At times the self-referential humor wears thin -- "The Producers" already has cornered the market on this sort of thing -- and the show at times doesn't quite possess the sharp edge that one might have expected from a Python venture. There also are times when the major players don't seem to have enough to do, with Pierce in particular appearing underutilized.

Python fans will take great pleasure in the production's use of projections in their familiar animation style as well as the taped appearance of John Cleese as the voice of God. Tim Hatley's set and costume designs pay respectful homage to the film's look, while displaying their own original cleverness.

Monty Python's Spamalot Play Information
Presented by Boyett Ostar Prods., the Shubert Organization, Arielle Tepper, Stephanie McClelland/Lawrence Horowitz, Elan V. McAllister/Allan S. Gordon/Independent Presenters Network, Roy Furman, GRS Associates, Jam Theatricals, TGA Entertainment, Clear Channel Entertainment
Credits:
Book and lyrics: Eric Idle
Music: John Du Prez, Eric Idle
Director: Mike Nichols
Choreography: Casey Nicholaw
Set and costume designer: Tim Hatley
Lighting designer: Hugh Vanstone
Sound designer: Acme Sound Partners
Cast:
Sir Robin, Guard 1, Brother Maynard: David Hyde Pierce
King Arthur: Tim Curry
Lancelot, French Taunter, Knight of Ni, Tim the Enchanter: Hank Azaria
Sir Dennis Galahad, Black Knight, Prince Herbert's Father: Christopher Sieber
Mayor, Patsy, Guard 2: Michael McGrath
Dennis' Mother, Sir Belvedere, Concorde: Steve Rosen
Historian, etc.: Christian Borle
Lady of the Lake: Sara Ramirez

The Monty Python's Flying Circus
Monty Python, or The Pythons, were the creators and stars of Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy series which first aired on October 5, 1969. As a television series it consisted of 45 episodes over 4 series. However, the Python phenomenon was much greater, spawning stage tours, four films, numerous audio recordings, several computer games and books, as well as launching the members to individual stardom.

The television series, broadcast by the BBC from 1969 to 1974, was conceived, written and performed by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin. Loosely structured as a sketch show, but with an innovative stream-of-consciousness approach (aided by Terry Gilliam's animations), it pushed the boundaries of what was then considered acceptable, both in terms of style and content.

The group's influence upon comedy has been compared to that which the Beatles had on music. While their influence all over the comedic spectrum has been apparent for years, it is especially evident in much recent absurdist television programming like Adult Swim, South Park and bits from the Conan O'Brien show.

In a 2005 poll to find The Comedian's Comedian, three of the six members were voted amongst the top 50 greatest comedy acts ever by fellow comedians and comedy insiders. Michael Palin was at number 30, Eric Idle was voted to number 21 and John Cleese was at number 2, just beaten to the top by Peter Cook.