Spamalot Touring Reviews

A reviewer said of the original production, "It's UNFAIR to make me laugh this much!” I wish I could say that of the touring show. Unfortunately, I can’t. This production seems to be missing some of the abandonment needed to really get the aud...

A reviewer said of the original production, "It's UNFAIR to make me laugh this much!” I wish I could say that of the touring show. Unfortunately, I can’t. This production seems to be missing some of the abandonment needed to really get the audience to let loose.

Ultimately, the strength of “Spamalot” lies in its nostalgia and entertainment value. While it makes a few efforts to comment on political and social issues, it is more interested in providing a fun and bright production which is difficult to loo...

Ultimately, the strength of “Spamalot” lies in its nostalgia and entertainment value. While it makes a few efforts to comment on political and social issues, it is more interested in providing a fun and bright production which is difficult to look away from.

Josh Rhodes, who directed both the 2023 Broadway revival and this tour, has made some interesting and not unfunny choices that test the comedy material without disappointing Python purists. As with Nichols’ production, a lot of the fun is in seeing...

Josh Rhodes, who directed both the 2023 Broadway revival and this tour, has made some interesting and not unfunny choices that test the comedy material without disappointing Python purists. As with Nichols’ production, a lot of the fun is in seeing how some big moments from the film, like the catapulting of a cow or the dismembering of a Knight in denial about his fatal injuries or a vicious rabbit attack, can be accomplished live on stage. The answer? With extreme silliness, which makes the high resolution projected backdrops and confetti cannons all the more pointless.

Major Attaway is a delightfully self-important King Arthur who often looks like he’s on the verge of “breaking” at the comic antics of Roberts’s Black Knight and Chris Collins-Pisano’s French Taunter and Knight of Ni. Sean Bell, as brave Si...

Major Attaway is a delightfully self-important King Arthur who often looks like he’s on the verge of “breaking” at the comic antics of Roberts’s Black Knight and Chris Collins-Pisano’s French Taunter and Knight of Ni. Sean Bell, as brave Sir Robin, projects expressions well and has fine timing well-suited to conveying bodily functions. Scenes and projections by Paul Tate DePoo III are great fun and honor the spirit of Terry Gilliam’s Python animations. And the small orchestra, under the direction of Jonathan W. Gorst, played wonderfully.

One might ask if a 20-year-old musical studded with jokes about women, gays, Jews, French people, and a variety of addled Britons could possibly feel fresh. The answer, largely, is yes. When everyone gets skewered, even with well-understood tropes, i...

One might ask if a 20-year-old musical studded with jokes about women, gays, Jews, French people, and a variety of addled Britons could possibly feel fresh. The answer, largely, is yes. When everyone gets skewered, even with well-understood tropes, it’s hard for any of us to feel singled out. A stellar cast helps, too. Brilliantly directed and choreographed by Josh Rhodes, Spamalot’s versatile troupe breathes life into dozens of characters, each one a quirky manifestation of Monty Python’s irreverent wit.

Fans of Monty Python in general — and especially the classic movie “Monty Python and the Holy Grail" — are sure to love “Spamalot.” But even if you’re not a Monty Python fan you will be hard-pressed not to enjoy the show now playing thro...

Fans of Monty Python in general — and especially the classic movie “Monty Python and the Holy Grail" — are sure to love “Spamalot.” But even if you’re not a Monty Python fan you will be hard-pressed not to enjoy the show now playing through Sunday at Proctors in Schenectady.

Scenes from “Holy Grail” are faithful to their inspiration and are highlights of the evening, even if they sometimes fall just shy of the Pythonesque, go-for-broke abandonment. And this could just be an unavoidable symptom of the 50-year-old fami...

Scenes from “Holy Grail” are faithful to their inspiration and are highlights of the evening, even if they sometimes fall just shy of the Pythonesque, go-for-broke abandonment. And this could just be an unavoidable symptom of the 50-year-old familiarity of “Holy Grail.” Could I have laughed harder at some of the jokes had I not already known their punchlines? Certainly. Did I still leave smiling at the show’s utter silliness? Absolutely.

Standing out among the cast, though, is Amanda Robles as The Lady of The Lake. Her stage presence, stunning singing voice and steadfast commitment to the melodrama required of her part are unparalleled. Hearing her belt out “Find Your Grail” is g...

Standing out among the cast, though, is Amanda Robles as The Lady of The Lake. Her stage presence, stunning singing voice and steadfast commitment to the melodrama required of her part are unparalleled. Hearing her belt out “Find Your Grail” is genuinely moving, and her reminder in the second act that she’s “been offstage for far too long” rightly earns ravenous applause.

Spamalot, like Spam, has a pretty good shelf life, thus the touring production, and a night of laughter at knights that say “ni,” corpses that are not dead yet, and a bunny that strikes terror into no one until it is too late. The musical doesn�...

Spamalot, like Spam, has a pretty good shelf life, thus the touring production, and a night of laughter at knights that say “ni,” corpses that are not dead yet, and a bunny that strikes terror into no one until it is too late. The musical doesn’t really make sense, but it doesn’t really have to. As long as there are enough Monty Python fans still alive to drag their offspring and significant others to the theater, the show will keep galloping along.

What is most remarkable about this latest iteration is its refreshed visuals, a dazzling combination of animated projections and massive set pieces reimagined by scenic designer Paul Tate DePoo III (who recently designed the sets for La Mirada's incr...

What is most remarkable about this latest iteration is its refreshed visuals, a dazzling combination of animated projections and massive set pieces reimagined by scenic designer Paul Tate DePoo III (who recently designed the sets for La Mirada's incredible revival of SWEENEY TODD) that, when paired with Cory Pattak's lighting and Jen Caprio's fun costume designs make the show all feel, well… wickedly royal.

Pulling everything together is actor Major Attaway in the lead role of King Arthur. With a pedigree across TV and theater — his chief Broadway credit includes a turn as The Genie in “Aladdin” — Attaway is at times an avuncular and even courtl...

Pulling everything together is actor Major Attaway in the lead role of King Arthur. With a pedigree across TV and theater — his chief Broadway credit includes a turn as The Genie in “Aladdin” — Attaway is at times an avuncular and even courtly Arthur, capable of being both imperious and soulful.

Yes, the show is very silly, re-hashing the best scenes from Holy Grail verbatim. Poking fun at the plague, the clergy, the non-electable monarchy, a killer rabbit, and The Knights Who Say "Ni!" (don’t ask). The lead characters make the most of the...

Yes, the show is very silly, re-hashing the best scenes from Holy Grail verbatim. Poking fun at the plague, the clergy, the non-electable monarchy, a killer rabbit, and The Knights Who Say "Ni!" (don’t ask). The lead characters make the most of the cock-eyed book that throws the kitchen sink into this hodgepodge of material. Production number heavy, there’s big Broadway numbers that seem to come out of nowhere with a cheesy Vegas feel.

Although each and every member of the cast gives an outstanding performance, Amanda Robles as The Lady of the Lake is truly a show stopper. Her comic timing, coupled with a vocal instrument that has an amazing two-to-three-octave range, shines when ...

Although each and every member of the cast gives an outstanding performance, Amanda Robles as The Lady of the Lake is truly a show stopper. Her comic timing, coupled with a vocal instrument that has an amazing two-to-three-octave range, shines when she belts out “Diva’s Lament.” There is a hilarious scene where the King and the Knights devise a Giant Rabbit as a Trojan Horse to penetrate the castle gates where they have been forbidden to enter. When intermission rolls around, we hear “Have a drink and a pee.”

The cast is thoroughly winning and delightful, up for all kinds of madcap adventures and antics. Major Attway shines as King Arthur, bringing boundless charm, warmth, impeccable comic timing, and a surprising sweetness to the lead part. Attaway’s...

The cast is thoroughly winning and delightful, up for all kinds of madcap adventures and antics. Major Attway shines as King Arthur, bringing boundless charm, warmth, impeccable comic timing, and a surprising sweetness to the lead part. Attaway’s velvety, rich caramel baritone is absolutely gorgeous.

First and foremost, what a cast! Many of the actors play multiple roles in the show. Chris Collins-Pisano was amazing, especially in his roles as The French Taunter and Sir Lancelot, both with starkly different characterizations, but both earning hug...

First and foremost, what a cast! Many of the actors play multiple roles in the show. Chris Collins-Pisano was amazing, especially in his roles as The French Taunter and Sir Lancelot, both with starkly different characterizations, but both earning huge laughs from the audience. His performances in “Run Away” as The French Taunter was hilarious, but his physical comedy in “His Name is Lancelot” truly showcased his comedic range.

As for the music, well, like the story around it, it is filled with frolicking fantasy and a snub of its nose at reality. Don’t be surprised if, after seeing the show, you find yourself humming the ditty “I’m Not Dead Yet” or the jovial “Al...

As for the music, well, like the story around it, it is filled with frolicking fantasy and a snub of its nose at reality. Don’t be surprised if, after seeing the show, you find yourself humming the ditty “I’m Not Dead Yet” or the jovial “Always Look On the Bright Side of Life” when no one’s looking.

Raunchy, camp, silly, and idiotic, this quest for the Holy Grail could not be more hilarious. Pairing a talented cast with earworm-worthy ditties like I Am Not Dead Yet and Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, makes Monty Python’s Spamalot fanta...

Raunchy, camp, silly, and idiotic, this quest for the Holy Grail could not be more hilarious. Pairing a talented cast with earworm-worthy ditties like I Am Not Dead Yet and Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, makes Monty Python’s Spamalot fantastic fun!

The touring version of the 2023 Broadway revival of the 2005 Broadway smash hit musical “Spamalot” opens its medieval tent for lots o’ funny business at the Fox, as wacky and silly as ever. “Spamalot” was created by Eric Idle, one of the or...

The touring version of the 2023 Broadway revival of the 2005 Broadway smash hit musical “Spamalot” opens its medieval tent for lots o’ funny business at the Fox, as wacky and silly as ever. “Spamalot” was created by Eric Idle, one of the original members of the British comedy troupe Monty Python’s Flying Circus.

Many differences and additions underscore the fact that it’s a live show. “The Song That Goes Like This” sends up Andrew Lloyd Webber-type building ballads with its self-referential lyrics and three key changes. And “Spamalot”-only jokes ha...

Many differences and additions underscore the fact that it’s a live show. “The Song That Goes Like This” sends up Andrew Lloyd Webber-type building ballads with its self-referential lyrics and three key changes. And “Spamalot”-only jokes have a musical-theater cadence to them, such as when to introduce “Find Your Grail,” King Arthur says having the goal to strive for is what’s important, and that the grail itself is a symbol, a pit musician plays a cymbal. Straight out of vaudeville.

I’m still not in love with this new take — still cheesy, still too much clutter — but this touring cast is far better than the revival’s originals and I’d say that the direction has greatly improved, too; perhaps it’s the work of Derek Ko...

I’m still not in love with this new take — still cheesy, still too much clutter — but this touring cast is far better than the revival’s originals and I’d say that the direction has greatly improved, too; perhaps it’s the work of Derek Kolluri, the associate. Or maybe Rhodes just figured out better where he had gone wrong and found the right people this time.