by dick kerekes dickkerekes@yahoo.com
You’ll laugh a lot at Spamalot, now on stage at the Times-Union Center with the final performances February 24th . This 2005 Tony Award winning musical is the funniest show that the Artist has brought to town since The Producers.
This show is an Eric Idle take off on the l975 movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail, which has attained cult status. The story is a loose retelling of King Arthur and His Knights of the Roundtable searching for the Holy Grail (the chalice used at the Last Supper). Somehow the quest gets lost in the jumble of many funny sketches, some of which are right out of the movie for you Python fans. But you don’t have to have seen the movie; the absurd fun can be enjoyed by everyone.
You really get your money’s worth with this show. Not only do you get ‘Spamalot’ but spoofs of other Broadway musicals. You may recognize hilarious short bits from Fiddler on the Roof, Westside Story, Company and Phantom of the Opera. None of the songs ever became a hit (not yet anyway) but ‘Always Look on the Bright Side of Life’ is probably the best number in the show. Three songs that are sure to become your favorites include ‘I’m Not Dead Yet,’ ‘You Won’t Succeed on Broadway’ and ‘The Diva’s Lament.’ The voices are all terrific, and the dancing is visually exciting including some nifty tap dancing. The sets and the costumes are eye-popping and as wacky and zany as the show itself.
The humor pokes fun at lifestyles, ethnic groups and social graces but all of it is done in the spirit of satire and pure amusement so it is hard to be offended. The humor, both visual and verbal is very fast-paced and some of it slips by you. I realized this because I saw this show last summer in Las Vegas (the 90-minute, no intermission version) and found new hilarious things in this excellent production that I missed the first time around. This production is the full two hour Broadway version.
If you need a reason to see this musical, outside of the fact that it is tremendously entertaining, consider going to see Jacksonville actor Patrick Heusinger who is a major player. He is an excellent actor and singer and very impressive at doing different accents. I think Mr. Heusinger is on track to be a major musical theatre performer, but then I thought that when I saw him first in FCCJ’s Blood Brothers several years ago. You will want to be in the Patrick Heusinger fan club after you see SPAMALOT. Don’t miss the most exciting musical of the year, I high recommend it.
There are two Saturday shows, at 2 and 8 pm and two on Sunday at l: 30 & 7 pm. Call (904) 632-3228 or visit artistseries.fccj.org to order tickets online with instant seat selection. I guarantee you will laugh a lot at Spamalot.
Article Published in the 2-21-08 Issue of EU Jacksonville
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