SHOULD I SEE IT?
What’s the Story of Spamalot?
Based on the classic film comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Spamalot is a spoof on King Arthur and his mythic search for the Holy Grail, the cup that Jesus used at the Last Supper said to contain wondrous powers. Accompanied by his trusty manservant, Patsy, King Arthur rounds up his Knights of the Round Table, and heads off on a quest that will bring them face-to-face with French people, a killer bunny, the dreadful Knights Who Say Ni and a Camelot that looks a lot like Las Vegas. Will they find the Grail in time? The future of the world, and of Broadway, rests in their hands.
What Is Spamalot Like?
One of the most laugh-packed shows currently on Broadway, Spamalot is a lowbrow musical comedy of the highest order. Jokes land every ten seconds or so, and just about all of them are hysterical. We’re talking soiled shorts, loud gas, a Fiddler on the Roof parody, a prince who love show tunes and a couple of moment that come off like a British interpretation of “Who’s on First?” Add some very funny songs (such as “The Song That Goes Like This”), fantastic choreography and impressive set changes, and you’ve got one heck of an entertaining night at the theater.
Is Spamalot Good for Kids?
Not quite for the younger tykes, as the show features plenty of off-color language and mature subject matter. There’s some violence, too, particularly one scene involving two knights who engage in a very fake-looking but still very bloody duel. But the plethora of physical comedy and potty humor will definitely click with the junior-high and older set, if you don’t mind them clicking with such things. Then again, there is a quite a bit of talk about British and European history, so they might actually learn something. You never know…