In 2005, Spamalot won the Tony Award for best musical comedy. Lovingly ripped off from the classic film "Monty Python and The Holy Grail," this outrageous parody tells the tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and has been called "The best new musical to open" by The New York Times. While embarking on their quest for the Holy Grail, the Knights encounter flying cows, killer rabbits, and taunting Frenchmen while performing heart-stopping musical numbers.
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.
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.
| 2005 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
| 2006 | US Tour |
National Tour US Tour |
| 2006 | West End |
London Production West End |
| 2007 | Las Vegas |
Las Vegas Production Las Vegas |
| 2010 | US Tour |
National Tour [Phoenix Entertainment] US Tour |
| 2012 | West End |
West End |
| West End |
West End Revival Production West End |
|
| 2015 | Los Angeles |
Hollywood Bowl Production Los Angeles |
| 2023 | Broadway |
Broadway Revival Production Broadway |
| 2025 | US Tour |
US Tour |
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