By Emily Henderson
When heroes roam the distant lands trying to find the lost treasure of yore, but get caught in fights between flying cows, knights who say “Ni,” and the French, you are in Spamalot!
Playing at The Segerstrom Center for the Arts from Feb. 17 to Feb. 22, Monty Python’s Spamalot is a hilarious take on the classic Knights of the Round Table story from Arthurian mythology. Based on the 1975 cult classic Monty Python and the Holy Grail and created for the Broadway stage in 2005, this tour brings the hilarity to a whole new level.
As mentioned previously, the musical is based on the film created by legendary British comedy troupe Monty Python. Known for their dry English humor and fourth-wall breaking gags, the stage production balances both of these elements for new and old fans alike.
Throughout the production, the book— created by Eric Idle— invites the audience in, beginning with classic jokes that are well known from the original film. Then as the show progresses, the antics become far more meta, ultimately acknowledging that what they are doing right now is a Broadway musical— much like how the film knows it is a film. This is a thread that shows up time and time again throughout, in order to balance the original that made everything possible, with more modern sensibilities, so new fans can join in on the fun.
One of the biggest changes notable in the production is the inclusion of women as prominent pieces in the plot. Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a, well, more male venture. Many of the times women do appear in the movie, they are either played by men or are seen in lewd and (pretty much) demeaning ways.
But in this production, the character “The Lady of the Lake” gets her bright and shining moment, being the Broadway star she was born to be. This is helped by the fact that actress Amanda Robles is showstopping— literally, she stops the show to talk about how she has not been on stage for some time. Jokes aside, she is a tour de force, belting to the rafters, and being the central force of the show. Robles is a true theatre star.
The actors are not the only component of the show that harkens back to true Broadway. The entire production is a love letter to musicals of today and yesteryear. Jokes fly by making fun of or harkening to niche references in the Broadway community, from the iconic Wicked rift to understanding that a lot of famous actors in theater are Jewish. But in order to create sarcastic remarks and playful homages to musicals that everyone loves, one must have a level of compassion and care towards the item of “attack.” It is a thin line between love and hate, and man does Spamalot “hate” Broadway.
All elements of Spamalot come together in such a show-stopping way that brings the bright lights of Broadway all across America. This has to do with the combination of production design, choreography, and costume design. Every single one of these elements brings back the old Broadway glamor that feels like it has been left to a by-gone era. The hand-made set designs along with the Las Vegas showgirls-esque choreography and costumes give the fun edge that feels oddly refreshing. The balancing act between trying to make something that is classic a bit more modern, while still harkening back to what made musicals and Monty popular in the first place can be difficult, but Spamalot does it oh so well.
Spamalot is doing it like no one else. It is a fast-paced laughfest for everyone, young or old and whether you are a fan of Monty Python or have never even heard of them, you must see this silly, silly show.
Tickets for Spamalot at The Segerstrom Center for the Arts are on sale now. You can purchase them online at scfta.org, or at the Box Office. If you miss it at the Center, do not worry. The production will tour at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood from March 24 through April 12. Tickets are on sale there at broadwayinhollywood.com.
Do not say “Ni!” Watch the hilarity of Spamalot now!