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Musical looking on the bright side Monty Python's Spamalot New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham ***** MONTY Python was something completely
different I seem to recall so when Eric Idle nicked bits of Monty Python
and the Holy Grail and added music this was never going to be Seven
Brides for Oklahoma or whatever. It is a gloriously stupid, mad musical with wit,
inventive comedy, juvenile jokes, a smattering of smut and some
brilliant songs which gently take the Michael out of the more
traditional musical offering.
There is The Song That Goes Like This from
the excellent Sir Dennis Galahad (Simon Lipkin - who also turns up as
Prince Herbert's father and the Black Knight) and the wonderful Lady of
the Lake (Jodie Prenger, winner of BBC's I'd Do Anything) or The
Diva's Lament by the lake lady Miss Prenger shows a fine voice whether in her
lament or the blousy, big band numbers she belts out like a good ‘un and
she displays excellent timing and a real penchant for comedy. There is
an awful lot more to Miss Prenger than merely winning a TV talent
contest. Star of the show though is Matthew Kelly. Kelly
is a favourite actor. He is perhaps best known among the general public
for Stars in their Eyes but he was a very fine actor before and after
that. His last job was as Pozzo in the revival of Waiting for
Godot alongside Sir Ian McKellen, for example - not exactly
“Tonight Matthew I'm going to be . . . “ Kelly revels in the role of Arthur from when he
first appears galloping on stage with his horse two half coconut shells
played (?) by his loyal and faithful serf Patsy to when he ends up wed
to Guinevere who is also that lake woman.
Patsy is played by EastEnder's Todd Carty who is
a revelation in the role. With the nearest thing to a ‘larf' in Albert
Square being a heart attack or funeral or something - I often wonder if
the programme is sponsored by some manufacturer of antidepressants - it
is a novelty to see anyone from the soap in comedy but Carty takes to it
to the manner born and is an excellent foil for Kelly.
And Graham Macduff is excellent as Sir Launcelot although it transpires that Guinevere is probably safe from his advances - unless she wears trousers and smokes a pipe that is. Cleverly done in the stage show is the battle
between Arthur and the Black Knight who dismisses losing an arm as just
a scratch, a second arm as a flesh wound and when he loses both legs as
well decides to call it a draw. There is the Trojan rabbit, a interesting
discussion on the various weights a swallow might carry, a killer rabbit
which can decapitate unwary knights and a very expensive forest which
probably did not leave much change out of a tenner. It is pure escapism, daft, illogical and
wonderfully funny ending with an Always Look on The Bright Side of
Life singalong complete with drop down words. If you can't laugh at
this than I would suggest checking your pulse, To 1-1-11. Spamalot will also be at Wolverhampton Grand
from 25-30 April with Phil Jupitus as Arthur. Roger Clarke Meanwhile, from the lakeside . . .
THIS hilarious musical is just about the
best Christmas present available if you are fed up of bad news,
government cuts, student demos and crocodile tears over Russian winning
soccer's woeful World Cup race. Need a good laugh? Well, this show by
Birmingham's own Eric Idle and John Du Prez, is definitely the answer.
It won the Tony award for Best Musical in 2005, and it's easy to see
why.
From the moment Matthew Kelly gallops on stage,
horseless, but to the accompaniment of clippety-clop from two half
coconut shells wielded by his scruffy manservant, Patsy, the fuse is lit
for an explosion of Monty Python-style fun.....rude at times, but who
cares. Kelly is a joy as King Arthur, setting out in
search of the Holy Grail with the heavily burdened Patsy, superbly
played by EastEnders' Todd Carty. On the journey he recruits his Knights
of the Round Table, and there are fine performances from Graham MacDuff
(Sir Lancelot) and Simon Lipkin (Sir Galahad). And there's a right royal performance from David Langham as Prince Herbert, Not Dead Fred, the Historian and a Minstrel. Value for money there. Hilarious moments turn up throughout the show,
but is there one to beat the sword fight between the King and the Black
Knight who, on having both arms and legs sliced off, describes it as
just a flesh wound! Busty Jodie Prenger, winner of BBC TV's I'd
Do Anything, displays a lovely gift for comedy in the role of the
Lady of the Lake, Eric Idle turns up on screen as God for a chat with
King Arthur, and everyone in the audience joins in that wonderful song,
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life. Directed by Christopher Luscombe, Spamalot runs
to 01.01.11. It would be sad to miss it. Paul Marston
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