Spamalot

Spamalot

The Melton Musical Theatre Company       October 2025

The Show

The Monty Python Musical, Spamalot, needs no introduction. It has become a regular feature of the amateur society world; many groups having enjoyed the fun of staging its silliness. In an introductory piece in the programme for this TMMTC production, the show is described as ‘slightly bonkers’. This is unfair – it’s totally bonkers!

Taking its theme from Monty Python and The Holy Grail, the musical takes us with Arthur, King of The Britons and his ill-assorted group of Knights, on the important quest. But that’s as much plot as we need to know. The show is really a series of loosely connected comedy scenes & sketches, with lots of characters, music and plenty of silliness.

The Production

Comedy is a serious business. It’s easy to get it wrong. The licence to be silly can become a temptation to overcook the silliness and kill the joke. Thankfully, there was very little of this in TMMTC’s production, the humour keeping almost entirely within the comedic boundaries. As a result, it worked. Characterisations were varied, the music well balanced and supportive, the singing strong, the acting convincing, the staging effective, and the whole thing suitably daft!

While this Spamalot was Director Jennifer Butlin’s first TMMTC production, her theatre training and subsequent experience has clearly equipped her for handling a large and unpredictable production like this. She can be congratulated on managing the fine balance between essential control and necessary freedom, resulting in a final product giving pleasure and fun to a large and receptive audience.

The pre-recorded pit music and the onstage vocals (augmented by a small pit choir) were well controlled by Musical Director Lisa Mills. The 22 musical numbers were  clearly and audibly performed, providing essential musical support to the comedy flowing through the whole performance.

In a fast-moving show, the necessary movement must be well-controlled to look tidily chaotic. This was achieved through direction of the ensemble, assisted by a group of dancers under the skilled choreography of Dawn Partridge and Katherine Vernon.

The technical

Sound and lighting were well balanced and controlled, contributing effectively to the dramatic progress of the show. The hired-in set was attractive and gave atmosphere to the proceedings while leaving sufficient space for the acting mayhem. Congratulations to TMMTC resident Stage Manager Trevor Adams and his team for the show’s invaluable technical support.

Costumes, part hired-in & many self-produced, were attractive, and, for the most part, appropriate. My one reservation might be the appropriateness of ‘trainers’ for the dancers, but they didn’t seem to detract from the quality of the dancing.

The Cast

Spamalot opens with an instructive lesson from an historian played by Pete Etherington, every bit the college lecturer, explaining the ancient history of England. This is followed by a big opening chorus number (The Fisch-Slapping Song) based entirely on the mistaken belief that the lecture had been about Finland! This nonsense sets the tone for the following couple of hours.

We are soon introduced to King Arthur, his devoted assistant Patsy and his horse, nameless and invisible but clearly heard, thanks to Patsy’s coconut-shells! Paul Mills, in the role of the King of The Britons, sets the tone as a regal, constantly frustrated, monarch from his first entrance and maintains the self-important hapless leader throughout the production. A strong and dominant comedy performance.

Jason Wrightam, as Patsy, was the perfect foil for his leader, continually failing to give the loyal service expected of him and providing the constant link between the King and the various subjects he managed to recruit. A good performance from another experienced performer.

When King Arthur explains how he obtained his sword Excalibur, we are introduced to the principal female character The Lady of the Lake, played with glamorous flamboyance, lusty singing and extrovert comedy by Katherine Vernon. Katherine’s front of curtain lament Whatever Happened to My Part is a great example of a character ‘stepping out’ of role to share her feelings with the audience and was performed with good comedy expression.

Principal among the Knights are Lancelot (Andrew Hull) and Robin (Sam Carter). Lancelot starts the show selling not-quite-dead plague corpses until he is spotted by the King and enrols as a Round Table member. Andrew plays the role of Lancelot with the right amount of ludicrous chivalry before hilariously ‘coming out’ on meeting the trapped, bearded and extremely camp Prince Herbert (Jak Beasley), who Lancelot rescues from Herbert’s over-overbearing father (Elliot Paulson).

As Sir Robin, Sam very effectively portrays the character known as ‘Robin the Brave’ (in fact anything but). Sam plays the role with a theatrical ‘luvviness’, unashamedly declaring his love for stage musicals and entertainingly explaining the secrets of Broadway success in his Act 2 song describing the history and importance of Jewish influence in entertainment (a song helpfully and sensitively explained in the well-produced show programme).

Strong support in the band of Knights is also provided by Sir Galahad (Ryan Green) and Sir Bedevere (Josh Gallagher). Ryan’s mud-gatherer Dennis convincingly becomes a dashing Knight after achieving promotion when the King meets him and his republican mother (Carole Bailey). Josh, as the flatulent Sir Bevedere, complete with frequently collapsing helmet, has his one moment of inspiration in the ‘Trojan Rabbit’ plan to invade the French castle, inevitably ending in ridiculous failure.

There are of course numerous other characters. Not Dead Fred, the Knights of Ni, the Dark Knight (cleverly staged in this production to avoid any pretence at dramatic stage illusion), the Swallow Knights, Monks, Minstrels, Raspberry-blowing French Guards with over-thick accents, all played with evident enjoyment by an enthusiastic company.

Congratulations, TMMTC, on another successful show. My wife and I had a great evening and are looking forward to our next visit.

 

Colin Blackler

Noda

October 2025                                                                                                © NODA CIO.  All rights reserved

 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.