UK Theatre Network

Monty Python brings the circus to town this week as the Broadway and West-End smash hit musical, SPAMalot, pitches its tent in Glasgow’s King’s Theatre.

“We dine well here in Camelot, we eat ham and jam and Spam a lot.”, sing the Knights of the Round Table in a jolly refrain that was the inspiration for the show’s title and a good indicator for the tone of this irreverent comedy musical.  Lovingly ripped off from Monty Python’s 1975 movie, “The Holy Grail”, the show “farts in the general direction” of the Arthurian legend.  Python fans will be delighted to learn that many of the original characters and songs from the movie are faithfully recreated while new elements and characters have been added with hilarious consequences.  Rest assured that alongside King Arthur and his faithful knights, we are entertained by The Black Knight (“It’s only a flesh wound”), the French Taunter (“Your mother was a hamster …”), The King of Swamp Castle (“One day lad, all this will be yours …”) and the Knights who say “Ni”!  But King Arthur and the world of musicals are mocked in equal measure with references to Lloyd Webber, ‘star’ cast headliners, camp dance routines and blatant overacting throughout.

Marcus Brigstocke made his musical theatre debut with some style as King Arthur.  Ironically, the stand-up comic was very much the straight man of this piece but he held his character well among the swathe of outrageous caricatures onstage.  Hayley Tamaddon (as The Lady of the Lake) seems to have limitless talent – she sings, she dances, she’s a character actress, she has great comic timing, she skates* (*not in this production).  Is there nothing she can’t do?  As in the Monty Python movies, the principal players play several roles throughout the show.  Graham MacDuff (Sir Lancelot / The French Taunter/Knight of Ni/Tim the Enchanter) and David Langham (The Historian/Prince Herbert/Not Dead Fred/Lead Minstrel/The French Taunter's Best Friend), in particular, displayed diverse character talents.

If there could be any criticism of the show it would be that the music seemed a little thin at times.  The movie’s grand soundtrack featuring French horn and timpani was replaced by somewhat weedy electronics.  Also, chorus singing was a little exposed.  A few more members of the cast wouldn’t have gone amiss … although, even that was lampooned when a few members of “stage crew” joined the cast for one scene!  These are but mere ‘flesh wounds’ in an otherwise robustly entertaining production.

Now, go away or I will taunt you a second time!

SPAMalot
King’s Theatre
Mon 14 – Sat 19 May
Mon – Sat evenings 7.30pm
Wed and Sat matinee 2.30pm