Spamalot

Excerpt from Las Vegas: "Broadway West?" by Victor Gluck


John O’Hurley, Nikki Crawford and the Las Vegas cast of Monty Python’s SPAMALOT
at the Grail Theater at Wynn Las Vegas
(photo credit: Carol Rosegg)

The Las Vegas version of Monty Python’s SPAMALOT which opened at Wynn Las Vegas on March 31, 2007 is even more fun than the New York version. Recreated by Tony Award- winning director Mike Nichols and choreographer Casey Nicholaw, this somewhat shortened version (which includes all but one of John Du Prez and Eric Idle’s original musical numbers) has eliminated any repetition that appeared in the Broadway version. In this “ musical lovingly ripped off from the motion picture Monty Python and the Holy Grail ,” Idle’s book now seems faster and funnier. The production team is exactly the same as the New York production (Tim Hatley, sets and costumes; Hugh Vanstone, lighting; Acme Sound Partners, sound design; David Brian Brown, hair and wig design; Gregory Meeh, special effects design), so that the show has the same look.

The Las Vegas cast does not have as many recognizable names as the New York show did when it first opened, but the new cast is just as much fun. John O’Hurley, best known for his role as J. Peterman on Seinfeld and as the ultimate champion on Season One of Dancing with the Stars, is a stalwart King Arthur and has a fine singing voice. In the role of “ The Lady of the Lake” which won Sara Ramirez her Tony Award, Nikki Crawford has all the requisite requirements for this larger than life role. Harry Bouvy as Sir Robin, Justin Brill as Patsy, J. Anthony Crane as Sir Lancelot, Randal Keith as Sir Bedevere, Edward Staudenmayer as Sir Dennis Galahad, and Steven Strafford as Prince Herbert all give able support to the inspired fooling. Monty Python’s John Cleese continues to play the Voice of God.

Steve and I saw Spamalot in Las Vegas on Wednesday, January 8 at the Wynn Hotel. We almost skipped it because we were so exhausted from our spur of the moment 12 hour drive but since I have wanted to see it since we were in New York in 2005, I insisted that we go.

It was very funny and immediately made us forget our exhaustion.

The play is based almost entirely on Monty Python and the Holy Grail with other Monty Python influences thrown in for good measure. They referenced the silly walks and Always Look on the Bright Side of Life. The Lady of Lake scores with quite a large part when all she merited in the original movie was a reference.

My only concern was that since it was obviously gussied up for Vegas, I was worried that the New York version might be better. The review quoted above put my fears to rest.

Now I feel superior since I clearly saw the better show.