UK Theatre Network

SPAMALOT

‘And now for something completely different...’  Described as a ‘new musical lovingly ripped off from the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail’, audiences all around the world have been roaring with laughter since Monty Python’s Spamalot, by Eric Idle and John DuPrez, won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2005, as well as a Grammy. 

Spamalot tells the legendary tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and features a bevy (or possibly a brace) of beautiful show girls, witch burnings (cancelled too expensive) not to mention cows, killer rabbits and French people. The show features the hilarious songs He Is Not Dead Yet, Knights Of The Round Table, Find Your Grail and of course the Nation’s Favourite Comedy Song (Reader’s Digest Poll 2009)  - ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE.

The show is hysterically funny and I laughed all the way through.  It’s absurdly silly, witty, slapstick comedy, but very cleverly written and never offensive.  I thought about all the stand-up comedians who can’t string a sentence together without using an expletive and how much they could learn about humour from this show.  Great wit comes from great intelligence and Eric Idle knows how to turn the ridiculous into brilliant comedy.

The songs are also skilfully crafted and I particularly enjoyed the Fisch Schlapping Song, the extremely funny The Song That Goes Like This, Diva’s Lament and You Won’t Succeed in Showbiz, brought bang up-to-date with references to Cheryl Cole, Simon Cowell and Susan Boyle.  We were all waiting for the Python theme tune ‘Always Look On the Bright Side’, which came at the start of Act 2 and joined in robustly for the reprise at the end of the show.

Phil Jupitus, best known as team captain on Never Mind the Buzzcocks, plays King Arthur - the man with the mission to recover the Holy Grail.  He can hold a tune, but I felt his acting lacked a bit of energy and needed to be bigger, in keeping with the exaggerated nature of the show.

Todd Carty plays King Arthur’s side kick (and horse) Patsy.  It has to be one of the trickiest parts to get right, as he has very little dialogue and is reliant on facial expressions and reactions to those around him.  Todd plays this brilliantly and works extremely hard to get every possible laugh.  He also gets to sing ‘Always Look on the Bright Side’, which gives him one of the best moments in the show.  Todd has been in showbiz for many years starting as a child actor on Grange Hill, then playing Mark Fowler in Eastenders for 12 years and moved on to PC Gabriel Kent in The Bill.

The Lady of the Lake is Jodie Prenger, winner of BBC1’s I’ll Do Anything in 2008 and her career has taken off since then on stage, TV and radio.  Jodie trained at the Fylde College in Blackpool and worked the cabaret circuit in the area before her first TV appearance on The Biggest Loser in 2006.  She has a very powerful singing voice with a slightly husky tone, ideal for the jazzy Knights of the Round Table and a range up to top soprano.  Her voluptuous figure is shown off to best effect in the gorgeous sparkling costumes and her comedy timing is perfect.

David Langham looked great in his blond wig as the very camp Prince Herbert, rescued by a perplexed Sir Lancelot (Graham MacDuff).  Other stellar performances came from Samuel Holmes as Sir Robin, Simon Lipkin as Sir Galahad, Robin Armstrong as Sir Bedevere,  who all played a number of other roles.  The excellent ensemble cast were Philip Catchpole, Rachel Knowles, Kit Orton and Amy Papa.  Swings were Tim Bonser, Paul Bullion, Persephone Fitzpatrick.  Eric Idle makes a humorous video appearance as God.

Don’t miss your night with the Knights of The Round Table at the most infectiously funny musical of the millennium.

Spamalot runs to 2nd April at 7.30 p.m. with Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2.30 p.m.  Prices from £19.50-£37.50. Visit www.ambassadortickets.com/aylesbury or call the box office (booking fee applies) 0844 871 7665.

Yvonne Delahaye
www.uktheatre.net