Theatre Review: Monty Python’s Spamalot - Arts Club
There’s a new musical in town and it’s something completely different!
A musical that is ‘lovingly’ ripped off from motion picture Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Now for someone like me, I could recite this movie from beginning to end….blindfolded. This is one of those movies that I know oh too well. The many many years of sitting down popping in the VHS tape (for you kids see here for 'what VHS is’) with friends and hollering out the many punchlines, jokes and little bits and pieces that have made up what might be the funniest and foolish films of all time. Well Monty Python a number of year’s ago decided…..why not make it into a musical and called it SPAMALOT!
Opening night at the Stanley Theatre had a fun buzz, even before the show started, I could hear friends in the industry rhyming off Python'esque jokes in the lobby. Everyone had a stupid grin on their faces as they all knew what was coming only moments away. The packed theatre did not disappoint, the theatre took the first bit of comedy and laughed all the way to a standing-o at the end.
Directed by the extremely talented Dean Paul Gibson, Spamalot does everything a comedy and musical should and more. It’s hilarious, like to the point my side hurt, I slapped my knee a couple times and yes the tears ran down my face……..literally!
Within 2+ hours you’ll be introduced to Knights who say Ni'h, the Black Knight, King Arthur and his knights, a plethora of song, dance, Spam and my favourite…Josh Epstein! Yep I don’t usually single out one person but honestly Josh rules the show. His character Robin the Cowardly Knight singing You Won’t Succeed on Broadway is priceless and everything Mr. Epstein does on stage makes me wish I could do what he does on stage. He’s an absolute professional and deserves all the accolades he receives.
But enough about Josh, Spamalot is wonderful, it’s fun, its foolish and you’ll want to see it again and again…..I know I want do!
Playing till June 29th at the Stanley on Granville Street.
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Photos by David Cooper