Monty Python’s Spamalot
Nothing to do with Armenia yet again, but as with music I like pointing local Armenians in the direction of those things that have defined my life entertainment wise. So, after being pleasantly surprised at the albeit small underground popularity of Da Ali G Show, and especially Kazakh journalist Borat, as well as the highly controversial and totally wicked South Park, now comes the turn of English comedy veterans Monty Python.
Monty Python casts a considerable shadow over modern comedy. As such, the term ‘pythonesque’ has become a byword in surreal humour. However, this is perhaps somewhat misleading, since the humour of Monty Python, whilst certainly nonsensical and surreal, is still strongly characterised by a preoccupation with the British social class system — most notably with British working class stereotypes. These themes cannot be said to be essential to surrealist comedy as a whole.
Anyway, turns out that Spamalot, the musical version of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, is now playing on London’s West End. This comes after making its debut on Broadway last year and winning three Tony awards. The BBC has more.
The musical, which is loosely based on the legend of King Arthur, features flatulent Frenchmen, a legless knight and a killer rabbit.
[…]
British actor Tim Curry reprises his Broadway role of King Arthur in the show, marking his first West End appearance in more than 20 years.
Best known for film roles such as Dr Frank N Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Legend, Curry’s London stage credits include Hair and National Theatre work such as The Rivals.
Shakespearean actor Simon Russell Beale will take over the role in London next January.
The Spamalot official site is here.
Incidently, the term spam for email comes from a totally unrelated Monty Python sketch according to Wikipedia:
Comment by Onnik — October 19, 2006 @ 11:13 am
Oh how our influences align. I once recited the entire Holy Grail movie from beginning to end. That was a long time ago.
Comment by Arsineh — October 20, 2006 @ 5:30 am