One of my favorite movies has always been, I’ll dare say it, the “classic” Monty Python’s Search for the Holy Grail. How are fart jokes and flesh wounds not timeless entertainment?
Though my parents, until recently, couldn’t understand why my sister and I found the statement “your mother was a hamster and you father smelled of elderberries!” so entertaining, they kindly gave us tickets to the broadway musical version; Spamalot. It opened in Memphis last night at the Orpheum.
I was both excited and skeptical. While I love the movie, the thought of it being a touring theater show sounded daring. If you have never seen or hear or it, the story is of King Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table and their quest to find the Holy Grail. A much told story in the form of satire and silliness, full of the aforementioned fart jokes and flesh wounds.
My impression of Spamalot? I was not thrilled; I was elated! It was the most fun play that I have ever watched. There are plays that I love, that are wonderful story lines, that will always be my favorites. This was hilarious and just plain fun.
The show follows the same story line of the movie but with many new extras. The town of Camelot is portrayed on stage more like Las Vegas than a dreary middle ages castle, complete with showgirls. I found it summed up best when overhearing a man in front of me during intermission. He said “I love the movie, I know every line and I have noticed every single thing they changed. And it is even better!”
The character of King Arthur was played to seem a bit drunk at all times. A funny portrayal but it also made his arrogance less irritating and more endearing. His ignorance seemed more of confusion.
The knights are each given their own distinct story. Sir Robin is the fearful. And Sir Lancelot holds quite a different surprise than that of the ladies man portrayed by Richard Gere.
However, The Lady of the Lake steals the show. Her presence on stage is commanding, in more ways than one. The actress playing her towers in height. More importantly, she is amazing. Her voice, her acting and her comedic timing reign over the actors of Camelot.
The musical is farcical and honest in it’s sheer whimsy way. To the skeptics, true to Monty Python’s original, and to the ones who are afraid of an odd play with the word Spam in the title, go see it! Spamalot’s a blast and the finale will bring you to tears.
