Monty Python - Palace Theatre, London

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 11 / 11 / 2006

intro

Anthony Strutt wriies of original Python Eric Idle's new thatre musical 'Spamalot' which has just transfered from Broadway to London, and is both a rip off and an update of the 1975 film, ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’

‘Spamalot’ is a theatre musical, and has come to London after a very successful run on Broadway. Monty Python were very successful in the charts, and not just on our TV and eventually cinema screens in the late 60’s and 70’s. ‘Spamalot’ is both a rip off and an update of the 1975 film, ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’.Eric Idle is the only original Python involved and has rewritten the script which casts ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ actor Tim Curry as the main character King Arthur on his search for the Holy Grail. Whereas the film just much more than musical numbers in it, ‘Spamalot’ is in contrast very much a musical. It goes very much over the top, and caters for every market with a gay number, a Jewish number and a disco anthem, but it still holds it own.It is very much aimed at a theatre crowd, and not so much a Python audience, and some of the pieces are too American, but then Eric Idle has lived in Hollywood for over 20 years now. “Spamalot’ is a fun night out,but not cheap with top tickets at £55 each. It will still, however, put a silly smile on your face, as you sing along to ‘Always Look on the Bright Side of Life’ from the 1979 film, ‘Life of Brian’, at its end .