| One of the problems with musical comedy is the | | | | performance is located. Parodies of successful |
| fact that you pay Broadway prices for something | | | | musicals, such as Fiddler on the Roof and several |
| that may or may not be funny to you. Monty | | | | of Andrew Lloyd Webber's shows are sprinkled |
| Python's Spamalot seems to have just the right | | | | throughout the performance. The show even |
| mix of humor, hum-worthy tunes, and a decent | | | | pokes fun at the proverbial "damsel in distress," |
| story line to make for extremely satisfying | | | | turning her into an effeminate young man who is |
| musical comedy. If you are considering spending | | | | the distressed individual who needs saving. |
| the money to see a musical comedy this year, | | | | All in all, Spamalot is an irreverent look at an old |
| this is definitely one worth considering. | | | | legend and the role of the musical as |
| The comedy actually begins before the curtain | | | | entertainment. The plot is not the main focus of |
| rises. At the outset of the show, the audience is | | | | the play. The main focus is the humor, which is |
| told to "let your cell phones and pagers ring | | | | found in everything from the sets to the |
| willy-nilly." After a few laughs, the audience is then | | | | costumes to the lyrics. |
| told "be aware there are heavily armed knights on | | | | Spamalot was written by Eric Idle, who was part |
| stage that may drag you out and impale you." | | | | of the Monty Python team. John Du Prez worked |
| This sets the tone for the type of humor of the | | | | with Idle to write the music for the play. The |
| entire show. | | | | original production, which opened in 2005, won |
| What is the plot of Spamalot? In a nutshell, it is | | | | three Tony Awards, including the coveted Best |
| the plot of the legend of Arthur and the Knights | | | | Musical title. It was nominated for a total of 14 |
| of the Round Table. The show is actually an | | | | Tony Awards. |
| attempt to turn the 1975 film Monty Python and | | | | The show began in Chicago in 2005, was |
| the Holy Grail into a musical, but the story line of | | | | eventually transferred to New York, and became |
| the play is quite a bit different than that of the | | | | an international production in 2006 when it opened |
| movie. The parody of the Arthurian legend is | | | | in London's West End. Other international |
| very irreverent, poking fun at the story | | | | productions include Melbourne and Barcelona. The |
| whenever possible in both music and prose. The | | | | show is scheduled to open in Germany in 2009. |
| play also laughs at traditional Broadway, especially | | | | Spamalot has been popular in all areas where it |
| with "The Song That Goes Like This," which | | | | has been released. Some of the reason for this |
| pokes fun at the traditional love song found in | | | | popularity is the many references it makes to |
| most Broadway productions. | | | | traditional Broadway shows. Theatergoers |
| Over the course of the play, Arthur is actually | | | | appreciate this lighthearted look at the art they so |
| given the commission to perform a West End or | | | | passionately love. |
| Broadway musical, depending on where the | | | | |