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“Spamalot” Serves Heaping Helping of Fun
by Sherri Rase     |      Bookmark and Share
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photo by Scott Suchman, 2010
cast of'MontyPython's''Spamalot"
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The late 60s and early 70s were a magical time for sketch comedy and even more so for a merry band of players who called themselves Monty Python. Their seminal show “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” was a staple of my twin sister’s and mine and we would roam through the house tossing lines to one another from the “The Dead Parrot Sketch.” Our folks had no clue what we were talking about and we would be hysterical.

The show ran from 1969 through 1974 and then came the movies–“Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” “Monty Python’s Life of Brian.” These were the irreverent send ups of popular culture and mythical lore that made fans even more ardent and brought this intellectually stimulating, yet utterly silly humor to the attention of even more who would be fans.

Over time, the members of the troupe went their separate ways, some into acting, most into writing, directing and such. “Spamalot,” the wild Broadway success that mines the catalog of Monty Python bits and makes them into a self-aware, wholly enjoyable musical fest, is touring the country and visiting Newark’s NJPAC through April 3.

Take the “Holy Grail” movie, with a soupçon of “Life of Brian,” and view it all through a wavy fun house mirror and you still won’t come close. This romp has actors playing several parts and what an opportunity for these men and women to shine.

The book and lyrics are by troupe member Eric Idle, so when someone borrows from their own earlier work, no worries! He also wrote the music with John Du Prez and acts as the Voice of God! What fun!

This touring cast is fresh as a daisy. You’d not know they’d been touring since September! Here are the dramatis personae in the cast: Thomas DeMarcus opens the show as the Historian. However, like many of these fine actors, he plays multiple roles including a chortling French Guard and a Minstrel among others. Matt Ban, in finest Shakespearean style, plays the Mayor, Dennis’ Mother including others but shines as the Black Knight–a popular bit indeed! And a neat bit of stage craft in pulling off the end game! Glenn Giron is the long suffering Patsy, King Arthur’s factotum and brilliantly expressive. King Arthur is Steve McCoy and plays the role with great aplomb. He’s blustery funny and just cannot understand why people don’t know him as the King.

Martin Glyer is suave, soft and funny as the fearful Sir Robin. You actually fear for his continence at several points. Adam Grabau as Lancelot is also The French Taunter Guard—“I fart in your general direction…”—and the chief Knight of Ni, and others, but his story line has a huge surprise for fans of the movie … it’s why sometimes the Broadway show is funnier still than the works from where it derives. John Garry, an up and coming young actor, plays Not Dead Fred, a literally flying Nun and Prince Herbert, whom you have to see to believe–born under a lucky star he is! Jacob L. Smith is Sir Dennis Galahad and cleans up extremely well. In fact when he transforms from Dennis, the ardent Labor activist to Sir Galahad, a Defender of the Realm, his language gentrifies as well. And money and status change everything from a political standpoint, don’t they?

Caroline Bowman has one of the great returning roles as The Lady of the Lake. Doing turns as sylphlike fantasy, Vega$ Showgirl and ultimately, well, you’ll see, she’s got more shades than a chameleon. She’s got a wide range of styles and when she does a scratch vocal using the grail, à la rap performance, a bark of laughter rang lonesome and bold from my lips.

The ensemble is brilliant and as varied as the Proteans in Forum. They include Mattew Alexander, Stephen Cerf, Jennifer Cordiner, William Harrell, Melissa Denise Lopez, Shaun Patrick Moe, Linda Neel, Jeffrey Shankle, KeLeen Snowgren, Tara Sweeney, Michael Warrell and Jessica Wockefuss. They are colorful tap-dancing, cheer-leading minstrels, Knights of Ni, French guards and more and you need to see the whole fam damily for what my theatre companion termed “really smart people, acting very silly.”

We have plenty of entertainments that are thought provoking, but few that are such delicious good fun. Give yourself the gift of laughter–it reduces stress and prevents heart disease and NJPAC could not be easier to visit. “Spamalot” will only be at NJPAC through Sunday, April 3, so get your tickets now–before they are ALL sold out! This is a touring show and will be gone if you don’t act quickly. Visit www.njpac.org for details.




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