Written by Nathan Schulz
As a big fan of the iconic film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, I was thrilled to see the Australian premiere of its musical adaptation, Monty Python's Spamalot, in Melbourne back in 2008. I've been a fan of the music and production ever since, and regularly listen to the original Broadway cast soundtrack on Spotify.
Recently, I've been struggling with a personal tragedy, and have been seeking creative outlets to help deal with the grief. After revisiting childhood favourites like Disney's Winnie the Pooh stage show at the Brisbane Powerhouse, and being inspired by the production 2:22 a Ghost Story in Melbourne, I was delighted to attend Spotlight Theatre's current production of Spamalot, directed by Clay English, in Benowa on the Gold Coast.
This hilarious musical comedy follows King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table as they embark on a quest for the Holy Grail, encountering absurd characters and hilarious obstacles along the way. Spotlight Theatre's production definitely delivers on the laughs, and provided a much-needed break from the recent difficulties.
In my opinion, the production holds up to the professional one I saw back in 2008, and in many ways, director Clay English's interpretation is even funnier. The entire cast, including the ensemble, appeared to be having a great time on stage, and their enjoyment was infectious. The audience couldn't help but quote famous Monty Python lines and join in on the fun.
Although I hesitate to single out individual performances in such a group effort, I must mention Chris Catherwood as King Arthur and Tristan Vanyai as Patsy for their outstanding comedic timing during the song "I'm Alone." The comedy injected into this sequence was pure magic and even more entertaining than the professional production I saw years ago. The same can be said of the sequence involving the song "He's Name is Lancelot." with Andy McFarlane and cast.
Overall, Spotlight Theatre's production of Monty Python's Spamalot is a welcome addition to the show's legacy, providing plenty of laughs and reminding us all to always look on the bright side of life.
Season Runs 28th July - 26th August 2023
For tickets to this weeks shows on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday click here
Nathan Schulz has a blog and podcast called "Is it my cup of Cup" which aims to appeal or inform the average joe who is looking for a good nights entertainment, because at the end of the day the subject matter or show he has seen "may not be his cup of tea", but that doesn't mean others out there won't enjoy it, and that he wasn't entertained.