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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Silliness takes to the
Palace Theater stage<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Bob
Abelman<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT
size=3>News-Herald, Chagrin Valley Times, Solon Times, Geauga Times
Courier<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Member,
International Association of Theatre Critics <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>This
review appeared in the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">News-Herald
</I>4/02/09</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Calibri
size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 7.5pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
size=3>Rarely does a piece of theater tap the 10-year-old in all of us—that
semi-dormant personality that enjoys saying inappropriate things during polite
conversation, giggles uncontrollably at references to body functions, and takes
genuine pleasure in things bawdy, naughty and subversive.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 7.5pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
size=3>Even rarer is when that piece of theater wins a Tony Award for Best
Musical, its original Broadway cast recording wins a Grammy Award, and the show
goes on national tour.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Such is the
enigma that is <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Monty Python’s
Spamalot</I>, currently on the Palace Theater stage in Playhouse
Square.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 7.5pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
size=3>Lovingly and extensively ripped-off from the 1975 cult film <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Monty Python and the Holy Grail</I>, the
musical tells the legendary tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round
Table, and their quest for the Holy Grail.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Of course, this tale is delivered through the dribble glass that is the
six-member British comedy team of Monty Python, which rose to prominence through
its TV sketch-comedy show that ran on the BBC from 1969 to 1974 and, later, on
American public television. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 7.5pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
size=3>Monty Python’s humor is simultaneously intellectual and sophomoric, and
is frequently generated by depicting intellectuals acting sophomorically, such
as a skit about the proper, bowler-hatted Minister of Silly Walks.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It thrives on offering clever
contradictions, such as a skit where illiterate feudal serfs debate the complex
socio-political struggles of the Middle Ages or by having its all-male cast
playing loud, shrill middle-aged housewives.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The TV show also presented surreal
animation, running sight gags and plenty of lunacy for its own sake. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 7.5pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
size=3>So too does <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Spamalot</I>, whose
book is written by Monty Python’s Eric Idle and whose music is written by Idle
and John Du Prez.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Clever
contradictions include depicting King Arthur, played with perfect comic timing
by famed film and TV actor Richard Chamberlain, as a regal yet clueless moron.
<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Another is having a
plague-ridden character named Not Dead Fred, played by Christopher Sutton,
engaging in a hilarious song-and-dance number in which he attempts to convince
the collector of dead bodies that he is still alive and kicking. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Sutton, who also plays the show’s
narrator, a flamingly gay Prince Herbert and several other characters, is
brilliant.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 7.5pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
size=3>Moments both intelligent and sophomoric include a ballad sung by romantic
leads Sir Galahad, a role taken on for opening night by understudy David Havasi,
and Lady of the Lake, played by the gifted Merle Dandridge.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The song, called “The Song That Goes
Like This,” offers a self-effacing critique of the inane songs typically sung in
Broadway shows by romantic leads.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 7.5pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
size=3>And there is no shortage of lunacy for its own sake, including a scene
involving a killer bunny, a traditional Finnish fish-slapping musical number,
and a French guard who taunts the King and his knights with wonderfully crude
insults and then catapults a cow at them from over the castle walls. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 7.5pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
size=3>Yup, <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Spamalot</I> is one silly,
silly show that, under the direction of Mike Nichols and musical direction of
Ben Whiteley, does not take itself seriously or slow down for one second.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is also a very well done show with
huge production values worthy of a Broadway tour.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Elaborate and beautifully constructed
set pieces depict medieval castles.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>The enormous feet of God, an animated sight gag from the TV show but a
1700 lbs prop on stage, drop down from the ceiling.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Magnificent costuming, curtains, special
effects and animation are used throughout the production. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 1.5pt 0in 7.5pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
size=3>In addition to the cast members already mentioned, the entire ensemble of
featured performers, singers and dancers are phenomenally skilled, energetic and
hard-working.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Casey Nicholaw’s choreography, which
ranges from modern dance to tap to Vegas showgirl strutting, is flashy and
spectacular.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 1.5pt 0in 7.5pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
size=3>Those out of touch with their inner 10-year old will find <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Spamalot</I> to be a tiresome, unfunny,
painful encounter.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>For those
willing to let the little rascal run wild for the evening, let the giggling
begin.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Monty Python’s Spamalot<I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> runs through April 5 at Playhouse Square’s
Palace Theatre in Cleveland.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Tickets, which range from $32.50 to $82.50, can be purchased by calling
216-241-6000 or visiting <A href=""><FONT
color=#0000ff>www.playhousesquare.org</FONT></A>.<o:p></o:p></I></FONT></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>