When Eric Idol greeted the cast at the curtain calls of
”
Spamalot
”
on opening night, the adoring Python fans whooped and hollered
approval for the wild, crazy lunacy that has just taken place.
When Eric Idol greeted the cast at the curtain calls of “Spamalot” on opening night, the adoring Python fans whooped and hollered approval for the wild, crazy lunacy that has just taken place. It’s taken from the successful movie “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” and the Broadway hit of 2005, which he wrote the book, music and lyrics with John Du Prez. Python groupies and non-obsessed Python theater goers were gleefully satisfied with all the absurdity and insanity.
The timing for this wild, mad story about a more than slightly demented King Arthur searching for Knights to join his Round Table to find the Holy Grail, couldn’t be better. It’s just what is needed in these unstable times. We need a good belly laugh and we need an outrageously funny, unbelievable plot to jar our senses somewhere else for a few hours.
The potty jokes, the irreverence to the dead of the black plague, the French Taunter joyfully spewing (how else can I say it?) farts and wee over Arthur and his men, and a production number that takes a page from Mel Brooks, tells you: “You won’t succeed on Broadway if you don’t have any Jews.” It’s all par for the course – and surprisingly inoffensive. Supported by a talented, well-directed cast, it proves what I have always said: “It’s not what you do, it’s how you do it.”
The songs are typically British with lyrics that tell more than you ever wanted to know on the subject at hand – but hilarious and well done. Old Python favorites are present with the legless and armless knight, the obsessed demented, unhinged flying bunny, tap dancing knights and can can kicking nymphs.
John O’Hurley of “Seinfeld” and “Dancing With the Stars” fame reprises his King Arthur role from Las Vegas. His King Arthur is innocent and clueless but loveable and his singing voice surprisingly not bad either.
Merle Dandridge’s Lady of the Lake has an amazing range and chews scenery like it has never been chewed before. The plot of the show wouldn’t have it any other way.
Check any political correctness and brainpower at the door, sit back and let it all fall where it may, and enjoy. You might as well – it’s there and it’s not going away.
‘SPAMALOT’
Where: Golden gate Theatre, 1 Taylor St., San Francisco
Through: July 5
Details: (415) 512-7770 or visit www.shnsf.com.
