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Regional Reviews: Phoenix Monty Python's Spamalot Also see Gil's reviews of Rumors, Angels in America: Perestroika and Into the Woods
The plot is fairly basic. King Arthur forms the Knights of the Round Table and with Lancelot, Galahad, Robin and his trusty knave Patsy along for the ride, plus some assistance from the mysterious Lady of the Lake, they go on the search for the Holy Grail. The subtitle of the musical states "lovingly ripped off from the movie" and almost all of the wild characters and lines from the film remain. But the show also includes several new scenes and a few over the top production numbers as well. While a few of Idle's comic bits sputter and a couple of the songs are just average, most of the musical numbers are quite good, with some humorously spoofing long running hit shows like Phantom of the Opera, West Side Story, and Fiddler on the Roof. The original production of Spamalot won the 2005 Tony and Drama Desk awards for Best Musical and ran on Broadway for just under four years. The PVCC cast is definitely game for the challenge they have before them, with lots of them playing multiple parts and, under the solid guidance of director Andrea Robertson, ensuring the comic bits land effectively. At just 21, Philip Amerine may be on the young side to play the hapless leader King Arthur, but his make-up and acting choices make him appear much older and he is appropriately stoic and regal in the part. Amerine has a great relationship with his fellow cast members, a nice clear singing voice, and his deadpan facial expressions are a hoot. Brenda Goodenberger as the Lady in the Lake, the only main female character in the cast, gives it her all and has a lovely, commanding and beautiful voice that has a wide, versatile range and is full of power. Idle and Du Prez wrote several very good songs for the character that feature various musical styles and Goodenberger knocks them all out of the park. She also has a strong stage presence which lets her easily hold her own and helps to balance all of the male characters. Christian Boden is having a blast as Patsy. His expert ability to clack together two coconut shells to portray the hoof noises of Arthur's imaginary horse is sensational. His perfectly agitated expressions and silly faces show Patsy's frustration with his place as Arthur's servant. But he also instills Patsy with a huge dose of warmth that effectively demonstrates his devotion to his beloved King. It is a delightfully silly performance. The men who play Arthur's three main knights are all gifted comics and are having a blast playing these parts. Tyler Lewis is a gem as the self-absorbed, vain and narcissistic Galahad. Lewis has great comic timing and a fantastic voice as well. His duet with Goodenberger of "The Song that Goes Like This" is a showstopper. Sky Donovan is hilarious as the not exactly brave Robin, with perfectly clear diction and a rousing delivery of his big solo "You Won't Succeed on Broadway." Sixteen-year-old Scott Snedden is charming as the somewhat sexually confused Lancelot; his disco coming out moment is a highlight. All of the supporting parts have well-executed comedic timing. The rest of the ensemble does very well with the comic parts and the zany songs, and the chew every possible piece of scenery they can find along the way. Robertson makes the series of vignettes seem cohesive and keeps the show moving along at a fast pace, even ensuring that the scene changes never stop the flow. While Dori Brown's sets are fairly minimal, they are effective and multi-functional. Jessica Florez's costumes are period appropriate with comical touches. Ken Goodenberger's musical direction achieves pleasant harmonies from the large cast and his conducting skills are exceptional, achieving a sensational sound from the fourteen-piece orchestra. While it helps to be familiar with the film the musical is based on, or at least Monty Python, the humor of the show still resonates without it, even if some things might be slightly confusing. If you've never seen the show or the film, I would recommend watching the movie before you go as it will make you appreciate how they've been able to theatricalize some of the funniest bits and characters from the film. Spoof and satire run rampant in this show and the cast knows how to play both lowbrow and highbrow humor just fine. With a spirited cast, simple yet effective creative touches and proficient comical direction, PVCC's Spamalot amounts to silly fun. The Paradise Valley Community College production of Monty Python's Spamalot runs through June 28th, 2015, at the PVCC Center for the Performing Arts, 18401 North 32nd Street in Phoenix. Tickets and information can be found at paradisevalley.edu/cpa or by calling (602) 787-7738. Director/
Producer: Andrea Robertson
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