Review by Karen Parr-Moody
Here’s the thing about the musical comedy “Spamalot,” now showing at The Roxy Regional Theatre: You don’t have to be familiar with, or even like, Monty Python movies to be rolling in the aisles with laughter. It is simply hilarious whichever way you slice it.
Currently running at The Roxy through Oct. 19, “Spamalot” initially hit New York City’s Broadway in 2005, where it was directed by Mike Nichols of “The Graduate” fame. Written by Eric Idle, the script is a montage of outtakes from films made by the British comedy team, Monty Python (Idle was an original member). What is the plot? It’s hard to pin down, being wrought with pounds of British absurdity. But it is essentially a ridiculous twist on the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.
The name, “Spamalot,” derives from this musical comedy’s “Knight of Camelot” song: “We dine well here in Camelot, we eat ham and jam and Spam a lot.” It includes a mixed bag of comedy, from dry humor to adolescent humor to downright silliness. And it works.
So, why does King Arthur’s porter, Patsy, canter along behind him banging coconut shells so that he sounds like a horse? Who cares? It’s funny. The same goes for a group of French warriors who taunt King Arthur and his roving knights: Men with French accents taunting clueless Englishmen about being English is, for whatever reason, inherently funny.
For this Roxy gem, director Tom Thayer and choreographer Jessica Davidson have put an incredible ensemble cast, including a large number of veteran professionals, including those who have held roles across the nation as well as powerful Roxy roles. The costumes, straight from London’s West End, take this production to a polished level not commonly seen in a midsize professional theatre.
The actors who play the knights — Sir Lancelot, Sir Robin, Sir Galahad and Sir Bedevere — make this blend of silly personalities a joy to watch, from the cowardly Sir Robin (played by Ryan Bowie) to the hair tossing and “dashingly handsome” Sir Galahad (played by Matthew Krob).
Then there’s the Lady of the Lake, Taylor Galvin, who was seen in “The Marvelous Wonderettes” and in “South Pacific.” She is not only beautiful and humorous, she has a rich voice. Michael Spaziani perfects a French accent in his role as the French Taunter, which is key to getting the laughs, and Greg Frey’s King Arthur is devilishly deadpan.
“Spamalot” is not one to miss, as it entertains thoroughly from beginning to end. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for youths ages 13 and younger.
Karen Parr-Moody began a career as a New York journalist, working as a fashion reporter for Women’s Wear Daily, a beauty editor for Young Miss and a beauty and fashion writer for both In Style and People magazines. Regionally, she has been a writer at The Leaf-Chronicle newspaper and currently writes about arts and culture for Nashville Arts magazine each month.
Greg Frey, as King Arthur, and Taylor Galvin, as Lady of the Lake, star in “Spamalot” at The Roxy Regional Theatre.
Taylor Galvin, as Lady of the Lake, belts out a tune in “Spamalot.”