Spamalot - Theater Review
By Ben Miles
Spamalot, the silly-fest created by comic icon Eric Idle (a founding member of the British comedy troupe Monty Python), is still filling seats in New York, and has also landed for an indefinite run in The Grail Theater at the Wynn Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Essentially lifted from the Manhattan production, the Vegas Spamalot retains its East Coast credentials. Mike Nichols receives credit for his far-out and farcical direction of each staging.
What’s more, Spamalot, at 90 minutes with no intermission, is a good fit for the frenzy that defines Sin City. And while the production in the desert is indeed a mutation of its Great White Way incarnation, the conceit was initially delivered in the motion picture Monty Python and the Holy Grail, which in turn was loosely borrowed from the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Roundtable. Spamalot is, of course, also a take-off on Lerner and Loewe’s 1960 Broadway blockbuster Camelot.
The wafer-thin plot follows the absurd adventures that accompany King Arthur and his knights as they search for that most coveted of cups—The Holy Grail. The journey takes us through sixteen musical numbers, each loaded with laugh-inducing lyrics and crafty choreography (by Casey Nicholaw). A couple of highlights in the parade of melodic parodies are “He’s Not Dead Yet,” performed by a cartful of would-be corpses, and what may be considered the Python anthem, “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.” The music, composed by John Du Prez, is performed by the Spamalot Orchestra and conducted ably by Maestro Wayne Green.
John O’Hurley (Seinfeld’s Mr. Peterman) fills Arthur’s crown nicely. His double takes and deadpan responses are delightful. Moreover, O’ Hurley’s showing last year on TV’s popular Dancing with the Stars was no fluke; his fancy footwork is royally displayed here. Furthermore, O’Hurley’s full baritone and monarchic bravado energize the cheeky proceedings.
As The Lady of the Lake, the full-figured Nikki Crawford is makes quite a splash. Her solo reprise of “The Song That Goes like This” is a showcase meant for a diva, and Crawford doesn’t disappoint. Notable performances are also given by Edward Staudenmayer as Sir Galahad, Harry Bouvy as Sir Robin, J. Anthony Crane as Sir Lancelot, and Randal Keith as Sir Bedevere. In addition to their roles as knights, each of the players doubles, chameleonlike, as other characters. Bet you can’t spot who’s who beneath the costumes (created by Tim Hartley, who also designed the set) and distinct characterizations.
Spamalot in fact is not brilliant, but many facets of the show do shine brightly.
For reservations, call (888) 320-7110 or visit www.montypytonspamalot.com.