Chris's SPAMALOT review - SPOILERS

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 9:22pm

CAUTION: THE REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS!

Tuesday, February 15, 8:00 PM
Spamalot
Schubert Theatre
This was the second night of previews, and the audience was clearly full of Monty Python fans having a wonderful time. It was fun and diverting, in my opinion, but not great. I remember seeing the film while in college and loving it, but I think a (stoned) 20-year-old will like this much more than a (sober) 40-year-old. There are some funny bits, but many of the gags are absolutely paper-thin. Of course, that is the nature of Monty Python and devoted fans will likely eat it up. I kept thinking that there was something unoriginal about it, and when the girls in sequins popped out of the baby carriages, it hit me: Corny sight gags, bad puns, Jewish jokes, chorus girls appearing out of nowhere...Spamalot isn’t "lovingly ripped off" only from Monty Python And The Holy Grail, there's some heavy borrowing from The Producers as well. That said, the emergence from the castle of the French “stereotypes” was one of the funniest stage moments I have ever witnessed. Hank Azaria was hilarious and I enjoyed David Hyde Piece as well. I didn’t think a lot of Tim Curry’s performance, though. He had very little stage presence and I felt like he didn’t bring anything unusual or exciting to the role—as if it could have been played just as skillfully if not more by scores of other actors. He seemed to be in good voice, but the role actually does not call for much singing. A disappointment. The music was not incredibly strong, although I think "The Song That Goes Like This" is wonderful—right up there with some of Forbidden Broadway’s best parody. "The Diva’s Lament" could be cut completely, in my opinion, with no detrimental effect on the show. I am sure that the overall quality will improve as previews continue.

The audience response was quite boisterous and enthusiastic, I must say. I'm just not sure that this will last too long, however, after all the Monty Python fans have seen it.

Updated On: 2/22/05 at 09:22 PM

[apdarcey]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 9:25pm

i'm not too keen on this show.

[Theatreboy33]

Posted: 2/23/05 at 12:41am

apdarcey, you've posted your distaste for this show (which i dont believe youve even seen) in nearly every Spamalot thread on this board. Please, give it up. Don't see it. More seats for the rest of us.