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Monty Python's Spamalot

Monty Python's Spamalot is a comedic musical "lovingly ripped off from" the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975). Like the film, it is a highly irreverent parody of Arthurian Legend, but it differs from the film in many other ways, especially its parodies of Broadway theatre. Eric Idle, a member of the Monty Python team, wrote the musical's book and lyrics, and collaborated with John Du Prez on the music. Running since March 17, 2005, it was directed by Mike Nichols, and won the Tony Award for Best Musical of the 2004?2005 season.

Spamalot's plot follows King Arthur as he journeys to find the Holy Grail. Arthur, travelling with his servant Patsy, recruits several knights to accompany him on his quest, including Sir Bedevere, Sir Robin, Sir Lancelot and Sir Galahad. Along the way, they meet the Lady of the Lake and a host of other odd characters, including Prince Herbert, The French Taunter, Tim the Enchanter, Not Dead Fred, the Black Knight and the Knights who say Ni.

The original Broadway production received fourteen Tony Award nominations, more than any other show in the 2004?2005 season. It won Best Musical, Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical (Sara Ramirez), and Best Direction of a Musical (Mike Nichols).

Featuring references to classic Monty Python sketches, including "Finland" and "The Fish Slapping Dance," it also includes a number of new original songs--"The Song the Goes Like This," "He's not Yet Dead" and "Find Your Grail" (which was performed at the Tony Awards)

 

No "He's Going to Sing?"

 

LOVED THIS SHOW!! Which is suprising since I hated Holy Grail-The Movie. However I have always enjoyed Holy Grail-The Random Friends Reciting Scenes Verbatim version. I thought I would like the show. I was amazed that I enjoyed it as much as I did. Best songs are, of course, Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life(from Life of Brian, my favorite Python of all), Find Your Grail, The Song That Goes Like This, and my favorite, You Won't Succeed On Broadway...
I saw it with Harry Groener as King Arthur. The whole cast seems to have fun with the show. And the fact that every actor in the show, with the exception of King Arthur and The Lady of the Lake, play various speaking roles is exciting for me.

If I may comment on Jeckyll and Hyde. I enjoyed that one a great deal. I saw it three times. Each with a different Jeckyll/Hyde. And that was fun. Funny thing is that each J&H was previously in Les Miserable. One was a Javert, one a Val Jean, and the other a Enjolras. The Javert had a stronger Hyde, the Val Jean a stronger Jeckyll, and the Enjolras was kinda in the middle.

 

it's in there. Eric Idle jokingly mentioned once that all the songs that were in the movie, are in the musical. Not hard to do since there's only what 2 or 3?
I'm a huge Python, but it actually is a great musical. I saw it when it opened in Chicago. I think my friend and i were the only one's laughing during "You won't succeed on Broadway".

 

I took my brother to see Spamalot for his birthday. What a GREAT show. Spamalot was hysterical. I've never had so much fun at the theatre.

 

Regarding Jekyll and Hyde, if and when it comes to the big screen, I hope they replace Lucy's song "Good 'N' Evil" with "Bring on the Men", like in the original recording. It's so much bouncier and really helps Lucy's tender side come out later, because she is nothing like the persona as displayed during the song. Plus it's a lot more fun to sing.

 

I wonder if they're going to do a movie of it?

 

Eric Idle has actually talked about bringing it to the screen, making it yet another show that has gone from screen to stage and back again.

 

While it was a really great musical, I don't think that the new content was quite as funny as the stuff from the film. Sure it was hillarious, but it just didn't produce the amount of laughter as the sketches from the film, and what they cut from it watered down some of the best parts.

Though I just loved the play bill, as it was pure Monty Python.

 

I tried to find the playbill on the 'net, and all I found were the eBay listings...!

 

[image=http://www.maynardland.com/mediac/400_0/media/photo~of~spamalot~playbill~by~amanda~$28retouched$29.JPG]

There you go! Classic Monty Python cartoon work.

 

Damn, I'm really pissed that didn't work. More so pissed that I didn't realize till just now.

 

Oh, good; I thought it was me.

 

[image=http://www.playbill.com/images/photos/spamalotcover.jpg]

There we go!

 

Ah, thanks.

 

Also, how would they do the ending if they turned it into a film? They would have to film it at the theater.

 

They'd do a totally different ending. In much the same way as they had to come up with something totally different to replace the non-ending of Holy Grail, because it's totally dependent on being filmed and couldn't possibly work on stage. A screen adaptation would do something totally different at the end.

I really admire how elegantly the show managed the Black Knight. At first it looks as though they've kind of wimped out -- done something credible enough but given in to the obvious technical limitations that prevent the kind of dismemberment seen on-screen. Then... Never a hint of how it was done. Color me very impressed.

-Paul

 

How does it end on the stage? (please use SPOILER notices...)

 

Here's a copy of the show's libretto, Zaz, if you'd like to read the ending.

 

Next up:

Wit

Vivian Bearing is a literal, hardnosed English professor who has been diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer. During the story, she reflects on her reactions to the cycle the cancer takes, the treatments, and significant events in her life. The people that watch over her are Jason Posner, who only finds faith in being a doctor; Susie Monahan, a nurse with a human side that is the only one in the hospital that cares for Vivian's condition; and Dr. Kelekian, the head doctor who just wants results no matter what they are.

Based on the Margaret Edson play, it was nominated for two Golden Globes-one for Emma Thompson and another for Best TV Movie.

This is a great play...it's one of those stories that consistently moves me to tears each time I watch it. Thompson turns in a brilliant performance...as usual.

 

The libretto below doesn't really explain the important part of the ending, the part I'm talking about.

If there is any possibility you will be seeing the show anytime in the foreseeable future (as in, even within the next couple of years, DO NOT READ ON!!! It's quite amusing, and reading about it will utterly spoil it for you. It really ought to be experienced, and you only ought to read this if you're sure you won't be seeing it at all.

You remember the stone carving where the writing trailed off in Holy Grail? They reach a stone much like that, and find the enigmatic legend AIOI carved into the rock. After spending a few minutes puzzling over this, they realize that it actually says "A 101" and run down into the audience, where they find the grail underneath the seat of the person sitting in seat A 101! Then we get the finale from the libretto.

-Paul

 

I haven't seen or heard of "Wit."

 

It was a highly acclaimed play on Broadway. I saw bits of the HBO movie, it was OK, but nothing special. I recall it not getting particularly good reviews.

 

Funny, I thought it did rather well. Eh.

 

Next up:

My Fair Lady

Gloriously witty adaptation of the Broadway musical about Professor Henry Higgins, who takes a bet from Colonel Pickering that he can transform unrefined, dirty Cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle into a lady, and fool everyone into thinking she really is one, too! He does, and thus young aristocrat Freddy Eynsford-Hill falls madly in love with her. But when Higgins takes all the credit and forgets to acknowledge her efforts, Eliza angrily leaves him for Freddy, and suddenly Higgins realizes he's grown accustomed to her face and can't really live without it.

There are a slew of classic songs here-"The Street Where You Live," "The Rain in Spain," "Wouldn't it be Loverly," and even more.

Rex Harrison reprised his Broadway Role in the Film adaptation, and Julie Andrews was denied a role in the film, producers claiming she wasn't well known enough.