My "Spamalot" Review- 3/4- (Some Spoilers)

[Testing1232]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 11:10am

Ok... so we saw "Spamalot" last night. First of all, the merchandise is great !!! Really cool stuff. Five different shirts for men, which was very cool. Cute baby tee for the wife, that read "You've Got Grail" on the back. Cute buttons, plush, Spam, etc... Priciey, but hey, its Broadway. Huge buzz outside the theater. I dont remember this much buzz at a theater in a while, including when "Wicked" first opened. People that were lucky to snag last minute seats were going nuts !!!

Okay, so we have good seats... mid Orchestra. Set is perfect for this show.

Huge ovation when the show starts. Tim Curry gets loud cheers.
Then, at least for me, the fun sort of died down a bit. Dont get me wrong, I liked the show, but did not from love it, and I went in thinking this was going to be incredible. I mean, how could it not be with this cast !!???

I just felt that most of the musical numbers were forced, and while I thought there were some very funny bits, I did not find myself cracking up. I understand the "Python" humor, but to me, it plays out better on screen. The performances were good, but not great. I did not leave the theater thinking "wow, he/she was amazing !!". Sara Ramirez has a great voice, and yes, she is funny, but I think that one "mock" song ("The song that goes like this" ) was enough. I really didnt need "The Diva's Lament". I thought is totally interfered with whatever flow there was to the show up to that point.

If I had to pick a "standout" from the men I would probably say Hank Azaria, simply because the French Taunter was my favorite part of the show. The rest (Curry, Pierce, and Sieber) were all good, but did not think any of them were that great. Probably liked Sieber the best out of those three.

Smart move by the producers of having the cast sing "Always Look at the Bright Side of Life" during curtain. It's catchy and uplifting. That, along with the confetti shooting out all over the theater will leave most theater goers with a great taste in their mouths. Didnt work for me. I equate it with a prizefighter trying to steal a round by throwing a ton of punches in the last 30 seconds to try and influence the judges.

Being that the reviewers are so fickle, and I have no idea what they will like or dislike these days, I can see this show getting more raves than "DRS", but not for my money. I will take Norbert's performance in "DRS" - ( Will be shocked if he does not win the Tony) over any performance in "Spam" and Sherie's over Sara's (just to compare female leads).

In my opionion, "DRS" as a whole is far superior to "Spamalot".

Definitely a good time, but my expectations were higher.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 11:13am

Basically exactly how I felt.

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 11:52am

I've never had any desire to see this show, and it doesn't look like I will.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 12:00pm

The thing that freaks me out the most personally, is that I am EXTREMELY obsessive with everything that I do. If I like a show, we always go back numerous times. I especially like seeing cast changes, to see new takes on roles. I was certain that after seeing "Spam" we would definitely want to go back. However, thinking about it this morning, I really dont have much of desire to go back. Now, "DRS" is another story !! Really must go back !

[Jon]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 12:50pm

Sara Ramirez will NOT be in the Lead Actress category. She is Featured.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 12:52pm

And she's hardly even featured, at that. I hope she finds a better musical soon to showcase her incredible talent. That woman has some set of pipes on her!

[thirdrowcenter]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 12:54pm

I loved SPAMALOT!!!!!!! I loved DRS!!!!!!!!!!!
I want Norbert Leo Butz to win every award.
I thought Hank Azaria was outstanding.
See both shows. Have a great time. Laugh, and sit back and be extremely entertained. What the heck do you want from a show anyway?

[Matt_G]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 12:56pm

The only thing I want is one of those Yorkies in your avitar.

[thirdrowcenter]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 12:57pm

Love you Matt, they're both old and sick though.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 12:57pm

Testing - I agree 100% with everything you said - your review was dead on. The show is fun, decently well put together, but something just doesn't work. I found myself chuckling, but not cracking up like the movie had made me. I was very disappointed, and you're right - DRS is 100% better than SPAMALOT.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 12:58pm

But they'll always be little babies to you, I'm sure.

[thirdrowcenter]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 1:06pm

Matt, oh yes, you know it, sigh.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 1:37pm

Thanks for the review. I don't wish any show bad, but I'm glad to hear that people seem to be enjoying Dirty Rotten Scoundrels more than Spamalot. I'm really curious to hear what the critics have to say, anyway.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 2:34pm

It seems to be that some of the reviews for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels were affected both by Spamalot and The Producers. The Producers effect is obvious, as it merits a lot of comparisons, so if critics loved it, they wouldn't want to rave so much about this one. But I also feel Spamalot is hurting it as well, like even if critics enjoy it, it's almost like the problem with the first figure skater's score, they don't want to rave because Spamalot may be better, and it certainly seems like my reviewer already called Dirty Rotten Scoundrels the second class citizen of the season which is unfair. I, too, am looking forward to Spamalot but I don't think it's fair that it seems to be affecting DRS. Oh well.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 3:00pm

<< Have a great time. Laugh, and sit back and be extremely entertained. What the heck do you want from a show anyway? >>

Thirdrow.... really immature reply. I would be extremely entertained, if I felt that the show was extremely entertaining.
I dont. Its good. I had a good time. (I always do... well, except in the case of "Brooklyn",--- was looking for sharp object that night).. just did not feel that the show lived up to the "hype". Simple as that.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 3:18pm

can someone explain how the black knight's limbs get hacked off on stage?

[miguelito]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 3:36pm

<< phew >> I'm so glad that I'm not the only one that feels this way. We went last night, and I left the theatre pretty disappointed. I had hoped for so much more from this show. For the most part the performances were great, I really enjoyed the cast, but the show itself left me wanting. The sets were pretty cool, the costumes were great... everything was really good, except the actual script... I loved the film, and made a point of NOT watching it before we went to the show...

On top of that, I found the audience to be extremely rude. People around us singing at full tilt along with the show, and reciting lines with the actors.

I would have to agree Testing1232 and Matt_G, DRS was money much better spent.

Updated On: 3/5/05 at 03:36 PM

[Testing1232]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 3:56pm

Mig,

Was the school group sitting anywhere close to you? Eating the entire show, and talking most of the time as well. OY !!

[thirdrowcenter]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 4:26pm

I don't think I responded in an immature way Testing. Updated On: 3/5/05 at 04:26 PM

[TGIF]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 4:28pm

Testing, I agree with your review. I laughed alot in the show and was highly entertained but it had its problems.

Besides some stand out songs, I felt like the score to a back seat to the jokes and bits. Anyone else feel this way?

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 4:39pm

Testing,
Excellent review. Very insightful, clear, great expression of your thoughts and opinions of the show. I'm seeing it shortly and will post my thoughts after I see it. From you, others on the board and personal friends who have seen it, your views seem to be the consensus. Thanks for the review.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 4:49pm

A reply such as << What the heck do you want from a show anyway? >>
when someone posts and honest reviews seems a bit immature, no?

Maybe I took it the wrong way, but thats the way it comes across. No problem.

[miguelito]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 6:37pm

Testing1232, they were on the opposite side of the theatre, but they were total jerks during intermission, crowding the bar and cutting off those of us that had been waiting patiently like normal people.

At one point, one of the boys walked straight to the front of the line, interrupted the bartender and asked for a coke. The man in front of me said very quietly and calmly "It looks like you missed this line of people who have been waiting patiently for their turn. May I suggest you step to the back of it?" to which the bratty child replied "what-ever..."

The man then said, in the same quiet calm tone... "step to the back of the line, or I'll see to it that you are removed from the theatre, and you DON'T see the 2nd act!"

he went to the back of the line... mumbling something about "stupid old jerk..."

so I DID get to experience them...