Spamalot

Ely, The Maltings, 2024 AD: an audience divided by an aisle were treated to an impressive, energetic, hilarious performance of Spamalot. Adapted from the classic 1975 film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail", this musical, presented by CAT, captured the comedic genius of the original work.

From the moment the musical director trotted out on a hobby horse with the clapping coconuts synonymous with the film, it was clear that the audience was in for an evening of delightful absurdity. Directed by Steph Peachey and musically directed by Gaz Brown, this production closely mimicked and honoured the spirit of Monty Python and had been well thought through in the casting, directing, singing and staging.

The set design balanced simplicity and intricate complexity, showcasing numerous standout pieces such as the Lady of the Lake's clamshell, Sir Galahad's boat, and the Trojan Rabbit. Well done to the backstage crew, it must have been a whirlwind of activity to manage these large-scale pieces. I’d have liked to have seen less of you when operating the castle doors, which disrupted the otherwise seamless scene transitions handled by the costumed cast.

Well done to the Spamalot Sewing Circle, the costumes were a visual delight. A particular highlight was the Black Knight's comically gruesome dismemberment, the mechanics of which were designed and built by Daryl Edwards. However, obstructed sightlines meant some audience members, including me, missed the end of this spectacle entirely. Similarly, the visibility of the killer rabbit's puppeteer and other cast members ready to catch the Holy Hand Granade of Antioch somewhat deflated the humour in the climactic search for the Holy Grail. Sightlines again not being considered for all audience seats.

The musical director's dedication to creating an authentic and vibrant sound was impressive, and the orchestra's live performance brought a rich, dynamic layer to the venue. The opening number with it’s purposeful ‘bum’ notes set the tone for a night of comedy. While each musician’s talent shone through, I felt there were instances where the orchestra overpowered  the actors' vocals, particularly in solos. Unfortunately, some of the complex harmonies and crucial comic lyrics were lost behind the orchestra. There were some technical sound issues leading to  instances of feedback during the performance. I really felt for the sound team who I am sure were working very hard to balance the musicians and the performers.   I fully appreciate the challenges to control the volume of a live orchestra in a small venue and the sound desk did a good job with the limitations of the equipment. I’m sure this will be an area CAT will be looking at for future shows -  the balance of the cost of higher-quality sound equipment for live music versus backing tracks. It’s really tough to get this right in a small venue when producing a show on a budget!

I was very impressed by all the cast, principals and ensemble all delivering a show full of energy and for many ‘first timers’ clearly a lot of hard work.  Each and every performer captured the original movie in terms of physicality, intonation and characterisation. I can only imagine the countless hours spent watching the original movie. Massive congratulations to all and to Steph Peachey for her attention to detail in bringing Monty Python authenticity to this show.

The principals were all very strong. From the moment he entered, Nic Metcalfe as King Arthur, with his resonant rich voice, delivered comic speeches throughout. His portrayal of Arthur, true to the original movie, was a perfect blend of seriousness and absurdity. The little looks that gave the audience permission to laugh were brilliant.

Constantly on King Arthur’s tail was Alfie McCreadie as Patsy, his peasant sidekick and horse hoof sound FX. The cheeky grin throughout endearing the audience to him, he gave a brilliant rendition of "Always look on the bright side of life," which was the perfect blend of accomplished vocals, sport-on physicality and comedic timing. Not sure whether the umbrella was broken or deliberately wouldn’t open, but Alfie acted in the moment and it was hilarious.

Eventually marrying King Arthur, Rosie Wells performance of the Lady of the Lake was very impressive – she made some vocally very challenging songs look effortless. Rosie has some singing pipes! One of the few voices who could easily be heard over the orchestra, her "Diva’s Lament" was hysterical.

The Knights of the Round Table were a strong motley bunch, and I was particularly impressed that they had learnt some tap dancing. It didn’t matter that it wasn’t too technical or that the execution wasn’t quite in time with each other, the fact that they had tried added to the humour.

Of note was Tom Heald as Sir Lancelot. Stripping off his knight's attire to reveal a rainbow lycra and fishnet garb, the number “His name is Lancelot” was one of the many highlights of the show. His characterization of the raspberry-blowing, two-finger-saluting Frenchman was hilarious, especially when taunting, "Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!" A tour de force of comedy—well done Sir Lancelot!

David Blaikie (Sir Bedevere) and Julian Hammond (Sir Robin) also did well as Knights and numerous other cameo roles throughout. Unfortunately, I missed many of the comic easter eggs of other Broadway hits in Sir Robin’s “You Won’t Succeed on Broadway” due to the orchestra volume, but this didn’t detract from the energy and passionate performance of this number.

I was blown away by Daryl Edwards performance as Sir Galahad, Dennis, the Black Knight, and Herbert’s father. Some people are born with comedy in their bones, and Daryl is one such person, playing a variety of characters each so differently, each so funny and amazing physical theatre to create completely different roles. My wife didn’t realise it was the same person until the cast bows at the end – bravo Sir Galahad.

Overall, the production succeeded in capturing the whimsical and irreverent spirit of Monty Python's Spamalot. All credit to Steph Peachey and the cast for the authenticity to the original movie. It was an evening filled with laughter, memorable performances and while some technical hiccups, this did not dampen my overall enjoyment. Well done to the entire cast, crew and CAT for an amazingly hilarious show!

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