LISA THALHEIMER
Arts Writer

Everybody should get excited; Spamalot is coming to town.

The musical comedy, based on the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail, is a sure hit with anybody who loves Monty Python or musical theatre and strangely enough, anybody who doesn’t like musicals.

Originally opening on Broadway in 2005, Spamalot earned itself 14 Tony Award nominations and took home the Tony Award for best musical, best lead actress in a musical and best direction of a musical. The show ran for over 1,500 performances on Broadway and has been professionally staged in 13 different countries.

Eric Idle, Monty Python alumni, wrote the book and lyrics for the show with John Du Prez and Neil Innes writing the accompanying music. Since the original movie is not a musical, almost all of the songs are written specifically for the show, with the exception of a few Python songs, such as “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.” As a bonus for those people who do not like musicals, almost every song in Spamalot finds a way to mock the musical theatre genre.

Even though the show was written by Monty Python alumni there are quite a few changes made to the original movie script for the Broadway show. This being said, Python fans will not be disappointed.

The musical follows the same basic storyline of Monty Python and Holy Grail, documenting King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and all problems they encounter while trying to find the Holy Grail. Also, many other Monty Python staples and references, like the Ministry of Silly Walks, can be found sprinkled throughout in Spamalot.

Monty Python’s Spamalot plays at TCU Place Nov. 23 and 24, showtime at 7:30.

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image: Scott Suchman