Review by: Paul Towers, 20 November 2018
Spamalot – book and lyrics by Eric Idle, music by John De
Prez and Eric Idle
A Knighton Park Amateur Operatic Society presentation
Little Theatre 20 – 24th November 2018
“this is a very funny show"
I guess you have to be into Monty Python to fully appreciate
Spamalot. And I am. It was my era.
‘Lovingly ripped off’ from Monty Python and The Holy Grail Spamalot
is a musical adventure that includes loads of Python references, lots of
theatrical spoofs and a plethora of sight and music gags.
Right from the moment the music starts and before the
curtain has even lifted there are giggles and guffaws to be had. Absolutely
nothing is taken seriously from thereon in.
The entire production is full of Python silliness. Even the
dead parrot gets a couple of appearances. There are many little sight gags which mean a whole lot to devotees but slightly less to
novice Python aficionados. Nevertheless each and every one raises a laugh.
Many of the costumes are intentional jokes in themselves.
There is even a guest appearance of Eric Idle as God (on film, obviously)
The stand out performance of the night was Shelley Henry. I
remember seeing her in Sister Act at Curve about 4 years ago when she
absolutely stole the show. Here she is wonderfully cast as The Lady In The Lake
and is given full reign to showcase her amazing vocal skills.
Another great part was Martin Bell’s Patsy, sidekick to King
Arthur. Very much like Igor, downtrodden, subversive and getting loads of great
comic lines.
A huge cast of 34 easily fill the stage of the Little
Theatre and provide a professional standard show.
My sole gripe is that whereas you expect one or two audience
members with weak bladders to interrupt the show you don’t expect it from a
member of the production crew. The guy sat in front of me was up and down like
a yoyo. If he felt the need to tweek the lights or sound then he should have
reserved a back row seat so he didn’t disturb other audience members.
That said, this is a very funny, feel good show getting a
well deserved standing ovation on the encore of Always Look On The Bright Side
of Life, which the audience sang along to.
Spamalot is at The Little Theatre until Saturday 24tth
November.
http://www.thelittletheatre.net/
First published on Western Gazette
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