a few brief notes on SPAMALOT

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 1:06pm

Before writing about SPAMALOT, I suppose it is absolutely necessary to address Sueleen and personally apologize for starting a thread about my opinion of show - no harm is meant, so don't get all worried about how important I think I am.

Anyway, I returned to SPAMALOT last night for the second time - the first being back in previews. While the show is more enjoyable to me now, it's still absolutely not best musical worthy in my eyes. Simon Russell Beale is fantastic - much, much better than Tim Curry. He understands the Monty Python humour more than Curry did - or atleast he's able to make the matieral more funny.

My real reason to post this is because of Lauren Kennedy. I thought she was absolutely abominable. It made me realize just how brilliant Ramirez was in the role. They need to get someone in that role as soon as possible - she's dreadful. Yea, she has a pretty voice, but it's not enough. Instead of her chewing up the scenery (as Ramirez did), the scenery here is chewing Kennedy - and swallowing her whole.

Any other thoughts?

[QMAN03]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 1:20pm

I don't think Kennedy is bad, I just don't think she's great. But you are right about Beale, he was truly fantastic.

[Johnnytoc]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 2:12pm

I agree. Simon Russell Beale really was fantastic.

[Dre2387]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 2:20pm

anyone would be better than Tim Curry

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 2:26pm

I felt that Tim was simply there to pick up the paycheck; he was playing King Arthur as if King Arthur was Tim Curry, so naturally he is funny being himself. But he wasn't into it at all.

[My Strongest Suit]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 2:33pm

i also loved simon. and i thought lauren kennedy was great.

[SirLiir]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 3:07pm

I really enjoy Lauren but I was disappointed with her performance. She was overall fine but I really noticed (and missed) the range Sara brought to the role. Sara made the role so powerful, funny, and in your face. Lauren did not stand out very well unlike Sara. Maybe she's a bit miscast but I still love her nonetheless.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 3:39pm

I hated Tim Curry when he was in the show. He can't sing, he sure as hell can't dance, and every one of his lines sounded exactly the same. It just makes me upset that he's the one I have to listen to on the cast recording, whereas SRB much easier (and funnier) on the ears.

And Sara? What more can be said? She's just... Sara. :)

[BialyBloomInc02]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 4:02pm

I'll chime in Munk! I have to agree with you on all your points 100% Simon Russell Beale was lightyears better than Curry ever was in the role and made the character and the show much better as a result. However, Lauren Kennedy was an absolute disaster. She has a lovely singing voice, but does not have the kind of presence or vocal versatility necessary for such a grandioso part. It truly made me miss Sarah Ramirez. Both The Song That Goes Like This and Diva's Lament were totally underwhelming...not to mention she had no business scatting like that on a Broadway stage! I realize this may sound harsh, but I cannot begin to comprehend why they'd cast her in this role. She was excellent in Side Show, but I'm surprised the cow didn't eat her up and spit her out like cud the night I saw her. The show, even with the presence of Beale, Hank Azaria and David Hyde Pierce, just doesn't seem worth the $110 ticket price. I still think The Producers is a far more clever and funnier show.

[SirLiir]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 5:35pm

I feel the show is worth the money but I am hard pressed to go back and spend that amount again. It does not appear Spamalot has a strong revisit percentage.

[tim10086]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 5:52pm

So it sounds like Mr Beale might be in the running for a "Best Recreation of Role" Tony award...?

[elphieisperky]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 6:17pm

Wow, you really didn't like Lauren, did you? I personally thought she was great, but heck, I never saw Sara, which could have totally changed my thoughts around. I also never saw Tim, but I loved Simon. He played the role very well. Now, I was estatic to finally see Spamalot after all of my friends saw it a while ago. My friends are VERY picky about theater, because they really could care less, you know? Weird. Anyways, they said it was the most amazing thing they've ever seen, so I had to check it out. When I did, I loved it, but not as much as I thought I would. Still, great show, and great cast, IMO :)

[ruprecht]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 6:21pm

As if this needs to come from me again,(or the many others who've said the very same thing time and again) GIVE THE DARN PART TO ORFEH ALREADY AND CALL IT A DAY! Yes, I have seen the show again with Kennedy, and to say she was abominable is being nice.

I'm sure i've already said it in the other jillion posts about this but IMO, the only person that's going to make you forget about Ramirez (in a good way) and make the part her own is Orfeh.

[ShuQ]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 6:32pm

Mr. Beale may be eligible...but there's not way he's going to be the one winning the recreation Tony.

[tim10086]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 6:36pm

Who do you think might win, ShuQ?

[wendy72]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 7:34pm

Simon was amazing--great, strong voice..looked like he was having a blast. Lauren's "Diva's Lament" was good, but overall, I got the sense she did not make the impact in this role that Sara did.

[SirLiir]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 8:05pm

That was my problem with her, Wendy. Sara's Lady was so powerful, so "Here I am! Like me or get the hell out of here". I really missed that with Lauren. The role seemed to not jump out at all like it did for Sara.

[vivs678]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 8:19pm

i think spamalot in general is just lacking in a lot of ways

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 9:35pm

Has anyone seen that picture of the lady playing the Lady of the Lake on tour? Pia something...I forgot but I Googled her and she looks like someone who could bring some diva power into the role lol.

[WickedRentHead]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 7:34pm

Question...have they changed the lyrics back in "Diva's Lament?" I remember hearing that they changed the line about having no Tony Award after Sara won, to what I dont remember, and Im asuming they've changed it back since Lauren took over and was just seein if someone could confirm this

[Cabchic]

Posted: 2/21/06 at 8:12am

When Lauren first took over they changed them to "My predecessor's won awards but now she's in Betty Fords" but they have since gone back to "Our Tony awards won't keep me out of Betty Fords"

[WickedRentHead]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 7:20am

interesting...thanks for the help

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 7:46am

I wonder which lyrics they're doing for the tour. Can't wait! I got two shows lined up in April...I'm suffering from lack of Broadway!

[Cabchic]

Posted: 2/22/06 at 8:05am

I would think there would be a few changes made when it tours and even in London and Vegas. The part about bringing a show to Broadway and being on Broadway, I guess they may change the lines to whatever town they happen to be in? I believe when they were in Chicago they said..."you are on Broadway..well Broadway in Chicago"...so maybe they will go back to that.