All the critics weighed in months ago, but now it is time for my write-up on Spamalot. And this reviewer says…*drum roll*….it was good. *cymbal crash* It didn't completely live up to my wildest expectations, but it was a highly enjoyable show and I'm glad I got to see it. Chris and I went to see it this past Sunday. We had a great day in the city and finally got to see a show we've wanted to see for a while now.
I love the movie and have been waiting anxiously with tickets in hand for 5 months, so really, I doubt anything would have really lived up to my expectations. But on the other hand, it would have taken a lot of work for me to dislike it too, as long as it retained some of the original movie. A few of the reworked parts were a bit forced and they jarred with the Python humor. The classic pieces held up well on stage. The actors did a phenomenal job with what they had to work with. David Hyde Pierce made a great Sir Robin and Tim Curry made the role of Arthur his own. It was campy and funny and they did what they could. For that I applaud them.
And yet something was missing. Python is such a dry, quick and understated humor, yet there were too many "laugh here" moments in the play. Monty Python just isn't the place for male flamenco dancers singing a song about a knight being gay with lyrics like, "He can finally come out and say that he is G-A-Y-...M-C-A!" It's far too…..unsubtle. Maybe not even that since Python is often over the top. But when they are, it's more clever or absurd, I think.
Perhaps, as Chris says, we're just both purists when it comes to Python. We've just seen the original one too many times and love it to pieces and the play could never compare no matter what they did. However, it was good and I'm glad I saw it. I just will not be returning for an encore soon. Especially if tickets remain as elusive as they have been. But if you have not yet gone and you get the opportunity, it's fun and I recommend it.
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