Monty Python’s Spamalot Hit or Miss?

Monty Python is a name that is synonymous with off the wall, quirky, distinctly ‘British’ humor.  When it was announced that the infamous movie ‘Monty Python and The Quest For The Holy Grail’ was going to be turned into a theater show called Spamalot, it caused an uproar among fans. Sure, Python’s sketch comedy is fantastic and the movies were cult hits, but could the Python’s peculiar brand of humor translate into a successful musical? 

Looking to the majority vote, most of the reviews for the show have been absolutely fantastic.  People love the music and the comedy, and the new twist on the classic tale of King Arthur and the Holy Grail is certainly one that people enjoy.  Spamalot has also been nominated for numerous Tony Awards, which are the Oscars of theater, and has won a number of them.  Spoofing on everything from King Arthur to Andrew Lloyd Webber, the show delivers a style that provides silly slapstick comedy and great songs for the kids, and some dazzling wit and fun characters and choreography for the adults.

One minor quibble some fans have had with the show is it’s very obvious ‘Americanization.’  Whilst the structure is fairly faithful to the movie, many much-loved lines have had to be cut to prevent cultural misunderstandings, and a tacked-on scene that is not in the movie featuring cheerleaders (a uniquely American tradition) caused many mumblings of discontent from British viewers.  

Nevertheless, Spamalot has received a lot of attention from the media and the theater world alike.  There have been numerous stars attached to the show, including Sara Ramirez, who played a Tony nominated role in the show before accepting a job on the popular television drama Grey’s Anatomy. 

At the end of the day, there is simply no denying that Spamalot is a fantastic spectacle that the whole family will enjoy.  If you don’t like Monty Python, you may not love Spamalot, but if that is the case, you probably aren’t interested in finding out if it is really excellent to begin with.  For those who love the show and the movies, the show absolutely cannot be missed.