Lovingly ripped off from the classic film comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Spamalot is a kind-of new musical with a book by Eric Idle and an entirely new score for the new production, (well, almost) created by Eric Idle and John Du Prez. Read more …
Spamalot tells the legendary tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and features a bevy (or possibly a brace) of beautiful show girls, witch burnings (cancelled due to health and safety) not to mention cows, killer rabbits and French people. The show features fantastic tunes more magical than a Camelot convention, including He Is Not Dead Yet, Knights of the Round Table, Find Your Grail and of course the Nation’s Favourite Comedy Song (Reader’s Digest Poll 2010 - before it went bust), Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.
The latest tour, which is directed by Christopher Luscombe, follows hot on the heels of the can’t-believe-how-successful-it-was-with-the-first-show-selling-out-in-40-seconds Monty Python Reunion at The O2 and Eric Idle’s acclaimed performance of Always Look On The Bright Side of Life at the 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony - the world sang along, and Spamalot audiences get the opportunity to do so too! During the run, there have been 21 onstage moustache incidents, three suspected cases of swine flu (French pigs!), two outbreaks of nits and 92 pairs of coconuts used.
There’s no pork, but plenty of spice and some jolly enjoyable ham as the Monty Python musical returns.
As the days lengthen but the world seems no less dark, we are rightly urged to look on the bright side of life through the lens of this unrepentantly cheerful production.
Part musical pastiche, and part love letter to the Monty Python films, the success of Spamalot is largely dependent on the predilections of its audience.
It’s slick, smoothly delivered and ruthlessly effective.
Spamalot is non stop entertainment. It makes the difficult task of making an audience smile constantly for two hours look easy and for that alone it deserves all the praise it can be given. This show will certainly not leave an audience disappointed – miss it at your peril!
This is a good-natured romp that never takes itself seriously and it manages to keep itself relevant by updating the cultural and local references with every subsequent tour. A welcome ray of sunshine and a well-timed pick-me-up in a very dull summer. Do yourself a favour and get along to see it.
Edinburgh Playhouse, Edinburgh from Monday March 16, 2015, until Saturday March 21, 2015. More info: www.edinburghplayhouse.org.uk
King's Theatre, Glasgow from Monday June 1, 2015, until Saturday June 6, 2015. More info: www.theambassadors.com/kings/
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