From my blog:
Spamalot Recording Review
I posted this on a previous blog but unfortunately it didn't stay so I'm reposting it!
Well being a Monty Python fan (fan not fanatic) and an enormous fan of Messrs. Curry, Azaria, Borle, Sieber and Hyde-Pierce I decided to skip the reviews of the cast recording and buy it anyways.
Now let me say I am in no way judging the content of the stage show. This could be the funniest show on Broadway right now. I was hoping that perhaps I could get an indication of that on the cast recording. Unfortunately my ears were treated to a rather bland and sticky show.
The ensemble of actors is perfect and they work off of each other marvelously but that just isn't good enough in this show. I'll cut right to what I perceive as the problem with this recording. No heart or soul. That's right I said it. William Finn once wrote "Heart and Music make a song." The music is there, at least the notes, but the heart isn't. The closest thing to a heart lies in three individuals.
The most notable is Ms. Sara Ramirez and let me say, this woman is fantastic. Effortlessly doing upwards of ten impressions (I counted Barbara, Celine, Whitney, The Merm, Sarah Brightman among others). She is a gem on this recording pulling off songs such as "Divas Lament" and "Find Your Grail" that in the hands of a lesser actress may have been wasted. The songs themselves are nothing special but the delivery is priceless. Ramirez's voice is filled with such comic subtleties when necessary and in your face power at other times. She glides from operatic to pop to musical theatre to power ballad. Where this woman came from I don't know, I certainly did pay much attention in A Class Act. Shame on you Drama Desk Awards! Sara Ramirez is a fantastic actress who needs something better than the songs she has been given here. Finally and actress who can do belt her brains out, have an outrageous sense of humor but still show some tenderness. Donna Murphy is one of the few who possess that talent and I see a new Donna in Ms. Ramirez.
The other performers at the "heart" of this show are Mr. Michael McGrath and Mr. David Hyde Pierce. Both are perfect in their respective roles. McGrath especially shines in "Always Look On The Bright Side of Life" and "I'm All Alone". His Patsy is wonderful in "I'm All Alone" and I wish I could see his face. The song, as is the case with Ms. Ramirez, is just not good enough for the talent on stage. Standing shoulder to shoulder with Mr. McGrath is Mr. Hyde Pierce. I don't have to mention his being on Frasier. I completely forgot who Niles Crane was after the recording got going. Showing a remarkably strong singing voice especially in "You Won't Succeed On Broadway" I was surprised how controlled he was. Great work!
The rest of the cast is wonderful with special mention going to Christopher Sieber in "The Song That Goes Like This" (his high note is hilarious and listen for a Colm Wilkinson impression) and Christian Borle as the Historian, A Minstrel, Not Dead Fred and Prince Herbert. Listen to Borles little "Ah" During "Where Are You" and you will begin to understand the subtle hilariousness I wish there could have been more of. Tim Curry is also very good and in excellent voice, Hank Azaria is painfully underused on this recording.
Glen Kelly needs to be given an honorary Tony for his musical arrangements. He made The Producers shine and now he makes Spamalot sound fantastic! Grand work! The technical aspect of this recording is one of the best I've ever heard. The sound is crystal clear and gorgeous. The orchestra sounds marvelous under the skillful baton of Todd Ellison and the Overture is lovely. Unfortunately I was just underwhelmed by the meat and potatoes of this show. I know that Monty Python is not known for their subtle senses of humor but the lyrics are just not very funny.
I believe it was Ben Brantley who said this show is like Forbidden Broadway with a 13 million dollar budget and I have to agree from what I hear. The music can't sustain the show. I'm assuming the book can, unfortunately there are so few actual book parts in this recording that I can't really tell and those that are in with the exception of the Historians speeches are quite dull. Eric Idle has crafted songs that all sound the same to my ears. The performers make the most of them but I wish they could be fresher, smarter, more Pythonesque. That is where we go for a heart. The Pythons have heart, the heart of the original Grail was the cheap production values and the way they relished in them.
Mel Brooks understood the need for a heart and provided it with Leo Bloom and even Max Bialystock and he made it apparent in the recording. That is what this recording lacks (I say recording and not show because I have yet to see the actual stage show) Even The Boy From Oz had heart on its recording.
There is just nothing that makes me want to care about any of the characters and though that may not be important for the Pythons of film it is a necessity in any Broadway musical.
So I give this recording 4 stars out of 5. I really wanted to give it 3 but the performers are so fantastic I don't have the heart. Great performers poor music hope you enjoyed the review!
BSoBW2: I punched Sondheim in the face after I saw Wicked and said, "Why couldn't you write like that!?"
