The best thing about Spamalot is that even those who don’t usually like going to the theatre will love the show. Spamalot continuously makes fun out of musical theatre and is very light-hearted from beginning to end. I am yet to meet a single person who hasn’t found Spamalot, which is based on Monty Python’s movie The Holy Grail, hysterical.
Spamalot follows King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table as they go on a quest to find The Holy Grail. Les Dennis and Warwick Davis have both recently joined the cast, reuniting the pair who appeared on Life's Too Short together. Their casting is utter genius. Both Dennis and Davis have made the roles of King Arthur and Pasty their own and their chemistry is obviously very strong, they bounce off each other fantastically and are brilliant additions to the rock solid cast.
Sometimes long-running shows run risk of becoming tired, but Spamalot always feels extremely fresh. With topical references to Prince Harry and Justin Bieber, Spamalot manages to stay relevant. Of course the addition of new cast members also brings a new energy to the show, meaning if you’ve seen Spamalot before you now have the perfect excuse to book a return trip!
Spamalot's score is simple yet catchy. Regardless of whether you've heard the cast recording or not, you will leave humming at least one of the melodies which are reprised time after time. What I love most about the production is the speedy running time. Spamalot is only two hours long, including an interval. The comedy is fast paced and the show goes by in a flash.
Bonnie Langford continues to steal the show as The Lady of the Lake. She is a walking theatrical legend. The role allows Langford to showcase her perfect comic timing as well as her divine, timeless vocal talents - she sings the score as if it was written for her. Langford brought the house down with a fabulous rendition of 'The Diva's Lament’. Another highlight was Langford’s duet with Chris Jenkins (Sir Galahad), ‘A Song That Goes Like This’. Without giving too much away the musical number makes fun of musical theatre and together Langford and Jenkins gave the audience a master class in how to perform a comedy number.
The Playhouse Theatre makes the perfect home for Spamalot as it’s slightly more intimate than other West End venues which is perfect for the show. If you want to laugh, laugh some more and perhaps even sing-along to ‘Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life’ then you must clear your diary and book tickets to see Spamalot.
Reviewed by Andrew Tomlins
Reviewed on Tuesday 24th September 2013
Spamalot is currently booking at the Playhouse Theatre until 8th February 2014