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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
And now for something that wins the Tony for Best Musical, 6 Jun 2005
"Spamalot" is explicitly proud of the fact that it is lovingly "ripped off" from the classic film comedy "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." Directed by Mike Nichols, the show has a book by Python's Eric Idle and a whole bunch of new sons by Idle and John Du Prez. Now that the production has won the Tony Award for Best Musical for 2004-2005, we can only imagine what will happen when "The Life of Brian" or "The Meaning of Life" are transported to the stage and another nail is driving in the coffin of Western civilization. All I know is that the first time I saw "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" I never laughed so hard during opening credits in my life (even with three of us sitting in two seats in the front of a Volkswagen rabbit--appropriate, huh?), and they do not have opening credits in Broadway musicals so I think the film still comes out ahead on that score."Spamalot" looks again at the legendary tale of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table, who dance when ere they're able, they do routines and chorus scenes, with footwork impeccable. Throw into the mix French people, a cow, a killer rabbit, and the Holy Grail and wackiness ensues. The cast is headed by Tim Curry as King Arthur, David Hyde-Pierce as Sir Robin, and Hank Azaria as Sir Lancelot. Then there is Michael McGrath as Patsy (and a myriad of other roles), Steve Rosen as Sir Bedevere, Sara Rameriez as the Lady of the Lake, and Christopher Seibert as Sir Dennis Galahad, the Black Knight and Prince Herbert's Father (the idea is keep true to the spirit of Monty Python and have a core cast do most of the nonsense and then bring in chorus girls to distract audiences from the inept dancing). There were a few songs from the motion picture that are, of course, found in the musical: "Monks Chant," "Knights of the Round Table," and "Brave Sir Robin" ("Bring Out Your Dead" and "Run Away" were not exactly songs then, but they are now). Idle knows his most famous song is "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" from "The Life of Brian," and he has no shame in having it pop up twice in this show. But I think the one that will get stuck in your head and drive you to distraction will be "The Song That Goes Like This." I was hoping they would do that one at the Tony Awards and exorcise it from my fevered brain, but they did "Find Your Grail," which is a better choice in terms of a production number that can feature the entire cast and a lot peppier than "I'm All Alone." Then again, I am surprised they did not do "You Won't Succeed on Broadway," with its explanation for what you need to have a hit on the Great White Way (count the levels of political incorrectness). But then I am back to listening to the rest of the songs and by the time we get to "Twice in Every Show" my brain is heating up again. My favorite part of the "Holy Grail" remains the lesson in anarcho-syndicated commune living between King Arthur and the "Old Woman," and the reading from the Book of Armaments, Chapter 2, Verses 9-21, regarding the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch. There are the Historian's introductions to both acts, but no other spoken comedy because they are working in as many songs as they can, almost two dozen by the final tally, including reprises and false starts. These are not great songs but they are great fun, and there are several that you will find yourself singing along with after a while and let me tell you that trying to sing both parts in "The Song That Goes Like This" is more difficult than you might think. Do you think there will ever be a touring company of "Spamalot"? We are still waiting for "Wicked" out here in the sticks, so this album and the DVD of "Holy Grail" might be all we have to hold ourselves over for the foreseeable future.
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~ Original Cast
~ Various Artists
by Eric Idle
~ Original Broadway Cast
~ Monty Python
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