SPAMALOT Extends At Playhouse To Feb 2014 As Palin Announced As 'God'

By: Aug. 21, 2013
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Monty Python legend Michael Palin has decided to 'fart in the general direction' of fellow Python legend, Eric Idle, when he appears as God on screen in Monty Python's Spamalot, this summer at The Playhouse Theatre to raise money for charity. At the same time, the show has now announced that it is extending its current run until 8th February 2014.

Palin steps into the heavenly robes previously worn by Hugh Bonneville (they actually got the chap from Downton Abbey), Barbara Windsor, Larry Lamb, Bradley Walsh, Simon Callow and Christopher Biggins, who have also filmed the part of God. They in turn have sent Eric Idle off down the pub throughout the warmer months, as he usually plays the role on screen (and will pop up from time to time when the other Gods are off inventing America).

'The Summer of Spamalot Charity Gods' has been created to raise-a-lot of shillings for several charities including Headley Court Rehabilitation Centre, The Make A Wish Foundation, the Great Ormond Street Hospital, Scene & Heard, Stage For Age and Keats Community Library which are supported by the actors who are playing God.

Michael Palin took time out of his busy schedule (of travelling through a large and expensive extensive forest for some TV show or other) to film the part of God, which will be shown during each performance of Spamalot from Monday 26th August until Saturday 31st August. His nominated charity is Action for Stammering Children.

Sir Howard Panter (says he's a real knight! as if), producer of Spamalot for Ambassador Theatre Group, said; "It is a wonderful opportunity to be able to bring friends of the show in to the role of God in this way, so that we can help such deserving causes while making audiences laugh at the same time."

Comedian and actor Les Dennis is currently playing King Arthur, while musical theatre legend and TV star Bonnie Langford plays The Lady of The Lake. Spamalot recently started a new performance schedule, which includes two shows on Fridays at 6pm and 9pm. Other stars who have appeared as King Arthur include Joe Pasquale, Stephen Tompkinson, Jon Culshaw and Marcus Brigstocke. Warwick Davis joins the cast as Patsy from 23rd September through to 19th October 2013.

Lovingly ripped off from the classic film comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Spamalot is a kind-of new musical with a book by Eric Idle and an entirely new score for the new production, (well, almost) created by Eric Idle and John Du Prez.

Spamalot tells the legendary tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and features a bevy (or possibly a brace) of beautiful show girls, witch burnings (cancelled due to health and safety) not to mention cows, killer rabbits and French people. The show features fantastic tunes more magical than a Camelot convention, including He Is Not Dead Yet, Knights of the Round Table, Find Your Grail and of course the Nation's Favourite Comedy Song (Reader's Digest Poll 2010 - before it went bust), Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life.

The new season at The Playhouse, which is directed by Christopher Luscombe, follows Eric Idle's acclaimed performance of 'Always Look On The Bright Side of Life' at the 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony - the world sang along, and Spamalot audiences get the opportunity to do so too! During the run, there have been 18 onstage moustache incidents, three suspected cases of swine flu (French pigs!), one outbreak of nits and 87 pairs of coconuts used.



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