Your Mother Was a Hamster and your Father Smelled Like Elderberries!- Spamalot 7.1.13

Last night was my first Theatre trip in the new year, and the lucky performance was.. The Hit Musical 'lovingly' ripped off from Monty Phython and the Holy Grail by Eric Idle and John Du Prez 'Spamalot' playing at the Playhouse Theatre, and I just have to say this wasn't my first visit, having seen it previously at the end of the November, it was a show I just had to go and see again! and both times were brilliant.

'Spamalot' is one for all, although if you are a Monty Phyton fan then it does it justice but also creates is own vibe and that's not because of the songs, but what the actors bring to the show.

The Story like I have stated before is a 'ripped off' version of the classic film 'Monty Phyton and the Holy Grail' following King Arthur and Patsy (his horse/servant) in seeking men to be a knight to join his army to help seek the holy grail! however with mini strange encounters on the way.  the musical shows many scenes from the scene for instants, the coconuts sketch, Not Dead Yet, the French Castle, the Knights who say Ni, The Black Night, and Prince Herbert Tim the Enchanter.  Though it brings new and comic scenes too the Knights binge in Camelot, and Galahad becoming a knight to name a few and also bring new faces such as the added Character of the Lady of the Lake, and how she helped King Arthur on his quest and to give him the sword of Excalibur (which fits in with the true historian story of King Arthur).  The story flows well and even if you do not know of the Monty Phython Stories those viewing will not be able to stop laughing, for the actors give it there all to give the best they can! The Songs also, although you have a the classic "Always look on the Brightside of life' and "Fisch Schlapping Song" "Knights of the round table" "Brave Sir Robin" the other songs bring in the Monty Python feel to them "He is Not Dead Yet" and a favourite "The Song That Goes Like This" which just says it all about the musical theatre, and just how Eric Idle can turn it around! I bought the soundtrack straight after seeing the show the first time around and still its a favourite on the iTunes :)

luckily I had the full running cast performing in both performance I have seen, theses being

Steve Tompkinson - King Arhtur

Anna-Jane Casey -The Lady of the Lake

Micheal Burgen -Patsy

Sir Bedevere/Mrs Galahad/Concorde/Guard - Robin Armstrong

Sir Robin/Mayor/Guard - Rob Delaney

Prince Herbert/Historian/Not Dead Fred/Minstrel - Adam Ellis

Sir Lancelot/French Taunter/Knight of Ni/Tim the Enchanter-Graham MacDuff

Sir Dennis Galahad/Black Night/Prince Herbert's Father -Jon Robyns

 

They were all brilliant!

 



 

The only actor I have seen before from the cast is Jon Robyns, which was when he was performing at he Noel Coward Theatre in 'Avenue Q' in 2006, where he played the original West End Princeton and Rod. He was amazing in that, and from this day I still feel he is the best actor for the puppets! Though in 'Spamalot' it was interesting to watch him use both his hands and feet for that matter, although I know most actors on West End are all round dance sing act, seeing him dance was just amazing! and he can dance.  He portrays Galahad well and his change from Dennis to Sir Galahad was brilliant, and I think he loves his wig to much with the great timing for each hair flick! its interesting for him to have this role also, as while on tour this role was played by Simon Lipkin (who appears on the Recording album) as he also was in Avenue Q with Jon the same time I saw it! but you can also see why as in some ways they have the same comic ability. 

Steve Tompkinson I have seen on TV 'Wild at Heart' and I had no idea he could sing! and it was a pleasant surprise, and you can tell throughout that he is enjoying himself, even if the Knight of Ni challenges him every night to make sure he is still awake (you will have to see it quite a few times to understand why so go get tickets!!).

But I think in my opinion the guy who is just brilliant is Graham Macduff, with the best comic timming and character change all around, and he really does get some of the best scenes and pulls them off so well, I think the Knight of Ni is brilliant how many people can dance on stilts! well he can! and each night even surprise  his actors on what he is going to do. i was lucky enough to meet him and he was a very nice guy, even joking around at when we were complimenting him giving me a cuddle and going 'oh the people who pay my wages' and last night I even got a tweet back from him! and you can see that he is just like himself on stage!

 I replied after that 'I might just have to now!'

 

all in all 'Spamalot' is just great, and I will go and see it again hopefully cause its one that just wont get old exactly like the films of Monty Phython! Eric Idle should be proud :)

 

SO GO AND GET YOUR TICKETS!!! I was fortunate enough to get the same deal on both my tickets that was on Travelzoo.com which was best price tickets at half price, so for the first time I was sitting in the stalls Row H, 22 which was to the left of the stage and I was able to see it all, and the second time with the same deal I was Row C seat 2, each were priced £28 normally priced 56 I believe and for where I was sitting the view were both greats, I haven't had the chance to view the stage from the circle but from the size of the theatre I got the feeling that you would get a good view from anywhere you said in there except on the right side further back where you might miss some scenes like the French man and coconuts. I am aware there are many offers going for Spamalot so keep your eyes peeled, on ATG tickets, and London Stage Tickets online :)