[NEohioPAL]Berko review: SPAMALOT (State Theatre)

[Roy Berko]

Funny, funny, funny SPAMALOT at State, and, oh, it’s
funny!

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News
Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times	

Anyone who can sit through ‘MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT,’
now on stage at the State Theatre, and not
hysterically laugh their way through most of the
show’s skit-like segments, should try out for the part
of the Muppet’s Oscar the Grouch.  

The show, which self-proclaims it is “a new musical
lovingly ripped off from the motion picture ‘MONTY
PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL’,” is outlandishly,
hilariously, creatively, well-conceived and performed.

As a song in the show says, “this is a very expensive
forest.”  The entire production is an expensive  and
expansive undertaking.  Nothing has been spared in
bringing this touring production of the still-running
Broadway show to town.  The sets, the costumes, the
special effects are over-the-top.  If you are sitting
in the first dozen rows, you’ll wind up being showered
with shiny circles of plastic, one member of the cast
will be dragged on stage to get a special award,
horses gallop (well, the horses aren’t actually there,
but it matters little), clouds ascend and descend, a
Las Vegas show room appears complete with a row of
high kicking scantily clad dancers, castles come and
go, and even God appears (well, at one point his legs
and at another point his hand).

Now, be aware that not everything is in good
taste...there are lots of sexual innuendos, lots of
passing gas jokes, almost every ethnic and religious
group is skewered.  The skit which insists you can’t
do a Broadway show without lots of Jews, is nothing
short of uproarious and the ballet scene between a
priest and a nun is offensively delightful. 

So, what’s it all about?   With book by Eric Idle, and
music and lyrics by John Du Prez and Eric Idle, the
2005 Tony Award for Best Musical centers on King
Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table and their
search for the mythical (or mystical) Holy Grail, 
which could be a vessel, a bowl or an idea.  Matters
not, this is not a religious play, it is an irreverent
romp.

For those who have seen the film, the musical differs
in many ways, so those who haven’t seen the flick need
not worry.  More than anything else, the musical
parodies the Broadway theatre (skewing everything from
‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’ to ‘FUNNY GIRL’ to ‘RENT.’

Under the direction of Mike Nichols, there is
highlight after highlight.  “I Am Not Dead Yet” is
nothing short of side-splitting as is “Knight of the
Round Table.”  “Find Your Grail,” and “Come With Me”
are belted by the wondrous Pia Glenn (Lady of the
Lake).  “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life,”
complete with an umbrellas-twirling kick line, is pure
cotton candy.  (Be prepared to do a sing-along to this
at the end of the show.)  
The three song unit, “Where Are You?,” “Here Are You”
and “Lancelot” is a gender bending  scream.  

Only “Run Away,” a French Castle conflict between the
British and the French grates a little, but with the
negative relationship between the Tea-swiggers and the
Frogs it may just not be something an American can
appreciate.

The touring cast is terrific.    Between all the
cross-dressing and double casting, you’ll find it hard
to keep track of who’s who, but it matters little, for
there isn’t a weak cast member.  Standouts are Pia
Glenn who has a voice so fine and loud it can, and
does, shatter a chandelier.  Jeff Dumas is pure joy as
the put-upon Patsy.  Michael Siberry is a perfect foil
as King Arthur.  David Tuner shines as the
less-than-brave Sir Robin.  Rick Homes (Sir Lancelot)
and Tom Deckman (Prince Herbert) play their
gay-discovers-gay scenes with charming abandonment.  

Capsule judgment:   From its delightful overture
through its over-the-top ending, ‘MONTY PYTHON AND THE
HOLY GRAIL’ is just plain fun.  If you don’t have a
sense of humor, are easily offended, or are a red
state fanatic, this isn’t going to be for you, but for
the rest of us, it’s a romp.  Oh, you might consider
wearing Depends as your ability to control your
bladder may be compromised by your non-stop laughing. 


‘MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL’ runs through 
October 15 at the State Theatre in Playhouse Square. 
For tickets call 216-241-6000, 800-766-6048 or go on
line to www.playhousesquare.com.


Roy Berko's web page can be found at www.royberko.info.  His theatre and dance reviews appear on NeOHIOpal, an on-line source.   To subscribe to this free service via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.fredsternfeld.com/mailman/listinfo/neohiopal.

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