Review by Graham Hicks
Monty Python’s Spamalot
A Citadel Theatre Production,
Citadel Theatre, Edmonton, Alberta Canada – Shoctor stage
Until May 19, 2013
www.citadeltheatre.com
It’s as much fun as Grease, back in 2003.
It’s as zany as Rocky Horror Show in 2011.
And it’s as silly as The Drowsy Chaperone in 2009.
In other words, The Citadel Theatre’s own production of Monty Python’s Spamalot is as funny a show as has ever graced the Citadel’s main stage.
You do know what you’re getting – given Spamalot is a loose stage adaptation of Monty Python’s Search for the Holy Grail movie, and the show itself was one of Broadway’s biggest hits of the past decade. Who doesn’t know The French Taunter’s “I fart in your general direction” or the Black Knight’s “tis only a flesh wound“ as King Arthur hilariously lops off his arm?
As was the case with the Citadel’s rendition of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Director and Citadel Artistic Director Bob Baker stays dead true to the Broadway stage show.
Nobody’s trying to re-invent the wheel here, just reproduce, within the slightly smaller stage, the marvellous antics of the stage show, in turn “lovingly ripped off” by one member of the Monty Python crew, Eric Idle, from the group’s Search for the Holy Grail movie.
You have to remember King Arthur etc. is really just a convenient skeleton on which to hang as much humour as possible, to poke fun with the music, puns, slapstick, absurdity, black humour, political skewery, back-stage politics, gays, Greek tragedy, class consciousness, Jews on Broadway, and so on.
What’s most enjoyable about this show is the fun this brilliant all-star cast is having on stage. We’ve seen veteran Edmonton actors Julian Arnold and John Ullyatt ham it up before, notably as Lumiere and Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast, but that was just a prelude for this show.
They are joined by Russell Roberts as the prim and proper King Arthur, Kevin Aichele as the towering Sir Galahad, the ultimate in lankiness, 6 foot forever Alex McCooeye as Sir Bedevere, the Igor-like valet to King Arthur Cliff Saunders (who must be dropping in from a Mel Brooks show!) and the incredibly talented wisp of a thing Farren Timoteom. Plus another eight singing/dancing extras who all have their cameo moments. As the program notes says “ Monks, Finlanders, dead bodies, Laker Girls, knights, showgirls, Frenchies, can-can girls and guys and minstrels are played by members of the ensemble.”
Finally we have Susan Gilmour, chewing up the scenery and lovin’ every minute of playing the ultimate diva Lady of The Lake/Guinevere. She is the vamp to end all vamps, so over the top that she is absolutely wonderful. Susan probably figures she may not have the chance to play such a character again in her career, so damn the torpedoes and take no prisoners!
Our own Monty Pythons!
You can only imagine the rehearsals as Baker mobilized and organized the extraordinary comedic/musical/theatrical talent of this cast. How they managed to stop laughing long enough to choreograph and plot out this show is amazing, but the amazing was done, as it’s quite the monster, with a new scene and new choreography and new stage trickery for just about every one of the 25 songs in the repertoire.
Spamalot was an inspired choice to end the Citadel’s excellent 2012/13 season, to go out in a blaze of laugh-inspired glory.
If you like to laugh, you love a terrific script, good music, and the theatrical magic of a great cast unlocking its full musical and comedic potential, do not miss this show.
It’s as good as, if not better than any touring version of the original Broadway production, at a fraction of the price.
Ah, the Spamalot memories … “ I don't want to talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper," roars Ullyatt in an outrageous French accent as the French taunter. "I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries.”