SPAMALOT, the musical “lovingly ripped off” from the Monty Python film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, gets a turn in Indianapolis this June, thanks to Bob Harbin’s production company, BOBDIREX. The Indy stage veteran brings an ensemble cast to the Athenaeum for singing, dancing, killer rabbits, French taunters, and a group of silly English knights on a quest for the Holy Grail.
The plot of SPAMALOT is similar to the film, with King Arthur (Charles Goad) and his faithful coconut-banging squire Patsy (Paul Hansen) gathering knights from across England to sit at the Round Table at Camelot, then receiving a message from God to go seek the Holy Grail, followed by adventures with the Knights Who Say Ni, the Black Knight, Prince Herbert and the King of Swamp Castle, and a killer bunny. The Lady of the Lake (Claire Wilcher) is a song-belting diva who, having given Excalibur to the king, shows up again to help him persuade Dennis Galahad (Pete Scharbrough) to join the gang at Camelot. Robin (Ben Asaykwee) decides to join the Round Table for all the singing and dancing, and Lancelot (Tom Cardwell) thinks that all that swordplay sounds like fun. Sir Bevedere (Brandon Alstott) hooks up with the gang, and the hilarity begins.
Show-stopping tunes like “The Song That Goes Like This,” “Knights of the Round Table,” “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” (actually from Life of Brian, another Python film), “You Won’t Succeed On Broadway,” “His Name is Lancelot,” and “Find Your Grail” are wonderfully performed. Wilcher’s powerhouse vocals pin the audience to the wall, while Scharbrough manages to match her note for note. Asaykwee gives an exceptional performance in “You Won’t Succeed On Broadway” in both the singing and dancing department. Cardwell’s turn as the homicidally brave Lancelot-turned-gay-disco-dancer is hysterically on-point. Hansen’s Patsy is outstanding, combining great vocals and acting chops. In fact, there is no weak link in this cast — the dancing ensemble work of the Laker Girls and guys is beautifully executed.
Take time out from your busy schedule to see SPAMALOT. Performances are June 20, 21,22, 28, 29 at 7:30 p.m. and June 23 at 3 p.m. at the Athenaeum Theatre, 401 E. Michigan St. Seating is reserved at $25 per person with discounts for seniors and groups of 20 or more. Call 280-0825 (no credit charge) or visit www.bobdirex.com to reserve tickets.
