Voter
Leading Actor Joined: 5/19/20
#1Kennedy Center’s Spamalot Reviews/Thoughts
Posted: 5/12/23 at 6:45pm
Tonight is the first production/performance of Monty Python’s Spamalot at the Kennedy Center.
I am seeing this next Friday
Anyone going tonight to see this production? Or this weekend?
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#2Kennedy Center’s Spamalot Reviews/Thoughts
Posted: 5/12/23 at 8:33pm
Nope. The show will be playing to empty 9houses.
"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)
Voter
Leading Actor Joined: 5/19/20
#3Kennedy Center’s Spamalot Reviews/Thoughts
Posted: 5/12/23 at 11:06pm
Dollypop said: "Nope. The show will be playing to empty 9houses."
Most of the shows are 90% sold out
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#4Kennedy Center’s Spamalot Reviews/Thoughts
Posted: 5/13/23 at 6:28am
Voter said: "Dollypop said: "Nope. The show will be playing to empty 9houses."
Most of the shows are 90% sold out"
Sarcasm. Look it up. 
MadsonMelo
Broadway Star Joined: 3/24/14
#5Kennedy Center’s Spamalot Reviews/Thoughts
Posted: 5/13/23 at 7:29am
The cast is great, I would really love to see it, as I never saw a live production of this musical.
defenses
Stand-by Joined: 1/6/23
#6Kennedy Center’s Spamalot Reviews/Thoughts
Posted: 5/13/23 at 10:30am
I’m seeing it Wednesday!
I don’t think I’ve ever seen the full Monty Python movie. Do you recommend I watch it or will I enjoy the show without it?
#7Kennedy Center’s Spamalot Reviews/Thoughts
Posted: 5/13/23 at 11:04am
It really isn't worth your time without seeing the movie first; so sit back, relax, and study the intricate designs of your wallpaper.
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#8Kennedy Center’s Spamalot Reviews/Thoughts
Posted: 5/13/23 at 12:24pm
defenses said: "I’m seeing it Wednesday!
I don’t think I’ve ever seen the full Monty Python movie. Do you recommend I watch it or will I enjoy the show without it?"
I never really got into Monty Python so I went to see the original Broadway production with a clean slate and LOVED it. The audience’s reactions will indicate when something Monty Python is being referenced so you’ll know. The musical is solid and works on its own. This was the same case with THE PRODUCERS - not having seen the original film made no impact on enjoying the musical adaptation.
batchels
Understudy Joined: 2/27/05
#9Kennedy Center’s Spamalot Reviews/Thoughts
Posted: 5/16/23 at 10:31pm
I caught this Sunday night and thoroughly enjoyed it. The strongest performances came from Kritzer. McClure, Urie and Walker. Kritzer was anazing and practically stole every scene she was in. However, I found the original Broadway cast likely more memorable.
There were several current references added including a hilarious final name projection during You Won't Succeed on Broadway. If you are in the front orchestra, be sure to look up as I almost missed it. A Mother's Day note was also a nice and humorous add specific to this performance.
The sets/costumes were the best of any Center Stage production to date.
I found Iglehart for me to be the weak link. However I have not been a fan of his in other Kennedy Center productions which may have carried into my opinion in this role. I sm curious to hear others thoughts.
If you are in the DC area during its run, I would definitely recommend for a fun night out.
#10Kennedy Center’s Spamalot Reviews/Thoughts
Posted: 5/17/23 at 9:15am
Are they still using the line "constantly replaced by Britney Spears" in the Diva's Lament? I wondered if they changed the reference.
"Ok ok ok ok ok ok ok. Have you guys heard about fidget spinners!?" ~Patti LuPone
SisterGeorge
Leading Actor Joined: 5/8/19
#11Kennedy Center’s Spamalot Reviews/Thoughts
Posted: 5/17/23 at 4:59pm
batchels said: "I found Iglehart for me to be the weak link. However I have not been a fan of his in other Kennedy Center productions which may have carried into my opinion in this role. I sm curious to hear others thoughts."
He was the low point for me in the 50th anniversary of Broadway at the Kennedy Center concert and again in their otherwise stellar Guys and Dolls. How big is his role (because when I saw his name in the cast I decided to skip it)?
Sister George
#12Kennedy Center’s Spamalot Reviews/Thoughts
Posted: 5/17/23 at 5:36pm
As King Arthur, I'm assuming he's a supporting role with a few star turns. But he's mostly the straight man while everyone else runs the show around him. Tim Curry got top billing in the original because he was a living legend with a sense of winkingly "slumming it," but he never came across like the star of the show.
#13Kennedy Center’s Spamalot Reviews/Thoughts
Posted: 5/17/23 at 5:59pm
darquegk said: "As King Arthur, I'm assuming he's a supporting role with a few star turns. But he's mostly the straight man while everyone else runs the show around him. Tim Curry got top billing in the original because he was a living legend with a sense of winkingly "slumming it," but he never came across like the star of the show."
True this...except for the "star of the show" part, which title he shared with Sara, Christoper, Hank and David. What an incredible cast and production....one of my absolute favorites!
steve.sometime
Stand-by Joined: 12/11/22
#14Kennedy Center’s Spamalot Reviews/Thoughts
Posted: 5/17/23 at 6:19pm
fashionguru_23 said: "Are they still using the line "constantly replaced by Britney Spears" in the Diva's Lament? I wondered if they changed the reference."
It's still Britney Spears.
I saw it last Friday. Usually I'm impressed with Broadway Center Stage productions, but this one felt under-rehearsed. The highlight for me was Rob McClure and Alex Brightman, both vocally strong and had great comedic timing. James Monroe Iglehart was fine. Michael Urie while adorable, could not handle You Won't Succeed on Broadway. Is it me or did Matthew Saldivar not whistle in Always Look on the Bright Side of Life? It was super weird when Patsy asked King Arthur to whistle while himself never could. I know Leslie Kritzer could kill those songs, but somehow some jokes in those songs fell flat. It made me appreciate Sara Ramirez so much more. Maybe it was just an off night. The set and costumes looked great. There were references to recent events like George Santos. They added a Grindr sound effect at one point. Rob McClure said his real name is Rob McClure during I'm Not Dead Yet. I think Leslie said Michael Urie's name at one point too. Overall it was ok. It made me miss the original Broadway cast very much.
PipingHotPiccolo
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/22
#15Kennedy Center’s Spamalot Reviews/Thoughts
Posted: 5/17/23 at 8:47pm
Didnt they take out the Britney Spears reference during the original run since she was then in the throes of her breakdown? Cant remember what they changed it to (going to Betty Ford?)
#16Kennedy Center’s Spamalot Reviews/Thoughts
Posted: 5/17/23 at 8:55pm
The line got changed to "all my Tony Awards won't keep me out of Betty Ford's" after Sara Ramirez won a Tony. The Britney Spears line was kept for a while, and they added a visual gag of "shaving her head" for a bit. When that was changed, I believe they added a reference to Scary Spice instead, because Mel B was appearing in some Broadway show at the time.
The "replaced by Britney Spears" line was inside baseball at the time, since Britney was constantly rumored to be about to replace in a Broadway show. She came very close to stepping into Sweet Charity but it fell through shortly before her well-publicized dark period began. So it sounds like a non sequitur today but was probably an inside joke in 2005.
nikkywalks
Swing Joined: 5/17/23
#17
Posted: 5/17/23 at 11:47pm
alex has an ad-libbed line in the show about the message boards, and i realized i'd never ever actually seen the message boards, so i'm here now- niiiiiiiice lol.
thanks for supporting live theater, y'all! all love and coconuts, always.
-nik (galahad)
#18
Posted: 5/18/23 at 8:17am
I thought that ad lib was one of the funniest things from last night!
I really enjoyed the show. I had never seen Spamalot before, knew a lot of the songs and seen Monty Python, so not a total surprise.
Performances were great, with Leslie Kritzer giving some astounding vocals. Nik Walker (hi, big fan of your WDW stuff too!), Alex Brightman, and Rob McClure stole many scenes.
Act two was a lot funnier than act one. I can understand why people feel like this is not on the level of Guys and Dolls and Sunset Boulevard this year, but I think a lot of that comes from the feel of the material.
It was a very fun night at the theatre. VividSeats had a bunch of under 50 dollar tickets within two hours of the show, fwiw.
Hunter: Your teeth need whitening./ Heidi: You sound weird./ Jeff: You taste funny.
-Jeff Bowen's worst onstage line flub.
-Jeff Bowen's worst onstage line flub.
#19
Posted: 5/18/23 at 8:49am
I saw the show Tuesday evening and enjoyed it. This was a last minute ticket purchase for me as I'm not able to plan things in advance at the present time.
I thought the cast was very strong. I loved Leslie Kritzer's performance. She was a hoot. The last time I saw Nik Walker was as Burr in Hamilton before he left the Broadway production. He is one of my favorites in that particular role. I enjoyed his performance and swagger in Spamalot as well. This is the first time I've seen Rob McClure on stage. He was out the night I saw the tour of Something Rotten in DC a few years ago.
The ad lib about the theatre chatroom made me laugh as I thought about BWW immediately.
I saw the Broadway production when Marin Mazzie was Lady of the Lake. I honestly don't remember much of the show at all.
Hey Dottie!
Did your colleagues enjoy the cake even though your cat decided to sit on it? ~GuyfromGermany
BoringBoredBoard40
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/27/21
#20
Posted: 5/19/23 at 12:38am
Caught the Thursday matinee with a VERY lively audience
I loved every minute of this and I think with more rehearsal and a bigger budget it could really be a huge hit, a smart producer would pick it up and transfer it next season.
Just a total blast from top to bottom, shoutout to Brightman and McClure for nailing the slew of characters they cover through the show and Leslie Kritzer sings THE CRAP out of her songs, some of those notes were WILD, some fun ad-libs kept the piece from being trapped in 2005 and made the afternoon feel very loose (including a very unexpected Jersey Shore reference during the second Knights Who Say Nee scene which James Monroe Iglehard was meant to repeat back but it was so long and involved he ended up just saying back to Alex "...and whatever the **** it was you said" which brought down the house) this bit also is where the message board moment comes in and folks, it is a reminder that the people we tend to talk about here sometimes are watching so maybe be more mindful about your "obnoxious and ridiculous comments"
I was very surprised that this was a very full production with intricate costumes and sets and projects etc, my first time experiencing this series at Kennedy Center and I shall return for more
inception
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/2/13
#21
Posted: 5/19/23 at 1:07am
Wouldn't it be something if the show they had to come up with as a replacement, because rights holders of the original show planned hope to bring a different production to Bway, were to transfer to Bway instead?
I really think this show is best appreciated by Monty Python fans. I never dug it. But this does sound like they've gathered the best possible cast of current theatrical comedians.
...
Voter
Leading Actor Joined: 5/19/20
#22
Posted: 5/19/23 at 11:44pm
Just saw this tonight and I was disappointed from the start. Personally, a Broadway transfer is far from possible but I can see a short limited time engagement.
I think Act 2 is way stronger. I did enjoy all the pop culture references that were current today. My favorite numbers were You Won’t Succeed on Broadway and The Diva’s Song/Whatever Happened to My Part.
I thought this was overtop the way it should’ve been. I did not see the original production so I can’t really compare it to anything. I didn’t see the movie so I think that have jeopardized my experience.
Run time was about 2 hours and 15 minutes
Voter
Leading Actor Joined: 5/19/20
#23
Posted: 5/19/23 at 11:50pm
Voter said: "Just saw this tonight and I was disappointed from the start. Personally, a Broadway transfer is far from possible but I can see a short limited time engagement.
I think Act 2 is way stronger. I did enjoy all the pop culture references that were current today. My favorite numbers were You Won’t Succeed on Broadway and The Diva’s Song/Whatever Happened to My Part.
I thought this was overtop the way it should’ve been. I did not see the original production so I can’t really compare it to anything. I didn’t see the movie so I think that have jeopardized my experience.
Run time was about 2 hours and 15 minutes"
Also, how did Spamalot beat these musicals for Best Musical?
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
The Light in the Piazza
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
I know the 2005 production won Best Director, but still?
