'SPAMALOT' at TriArts Sharon Playhouse - My Review

Monty Python's SPAMALOT is a relatively new "musical lovingly ripped off from the motion picture 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail'"that is currently playing at the TriArts Sharon Playhouse. Eric Idle wrote the book and the clever lyrics and co-wrote the music with John Du Prez. While the theater had tried to get the rights last season, this is the first time that this unique show has been presented in the area and is what Backstage Johnny O calls a "character actors dream." (Click here to listen to the podcast about this show.) The show at TriArts is directed by Jennifer Werner (currently the associate director of The Book of Mormon) and she is assisted by the actor who plays King Arthur, Thomas Cannizzaro.

My usual theater companion insisted that we go see this show. He also insisted that I watch the DVD of the "Holy Grail" movie before we went and I am glad that I did. So I knew that there would be the king, his Knights of the Round Table, a beautiful Lady of the Lake, and a huge number of supporting characters played by a very busy ensemble who change costumes at lightening speed. Not to mention lots of cheeky props, sly references to pop culture and other shows, singing, dancing and a ten member orchestra in the pit....whew! And zaniness ensues for the entire two hours.

I enjoyed the show tremendously, and my teenaged son LOVED it. Three numbers into the show, he turned to me and said "This is awesome." He knew every single word to one long speech that the actual actor was probably reading from the book he held. He appreciated all the jokes and enjoyed seeing how they put onstage some of the toughest bits of the movie. No one in the audience was more disappointed when I was chosen with great fanfare to go onstage to play a peasant and he had missed being in the correct place by one (complimentary) seat. It was very exciting to be so close to this talented cast and I have a Polaroid photo and a certificate to remind me of the experience.

The set designed by Erik D. Diaz was as impressive as always and the multitude of costumes designed by Michelle Eden Humphrey were equally as wonderful. The various ensembles worn by the Lady of the Lake were stunning. The sound engineered by Gabriel Luxton was flawless. The excellent orchestra under the direction of Eric Kang (Altar Boys) even had some jokes of their own.

Mr. Cannizzaro, in his debut at TriArts, played King Arthur straight, but this doesn't mean that he wasn't very funny. The professional actor was in the original Broadway cast of SPAMALOT where he understudied for Tim Curry in the role of the king and stayed with the show for the entire length of the run. As the only Equity actor in the cast, of course he was excellent in the role. What was impressive was that the less-seasoned actors that surrounded him rose to his level of talent. Bethany Fagan, as the beautiful Lady of the Lake, was the only other actor that played a single role. The other six principle actors played between three and five characters and the multi-talented ensemble members even more.

Kenny Francoeur has the face of a cherub and was marvelous as a minstrel and Prince Herbert. Harrison Post stood out in the role of Patsy, the king's loyal servant and escorted me to the stage. Brandon Cordeiro was a very strong comic force as Sir Lancelot, The French Taunter, the head Knight of Ni and Tim the Enchanter.

Jared Weiss was great as Sir Robin while Stephen Ecklemann was also strong in the role of Sir Galahad and others. Mark Devey has taught a Monty Python elective for 25 years at a school in Lakeville where he serves as Head of School and decided to lead by example and audition for a production. This educator was quite funny as Sir Bedevere and Dennis' mother.

The young members of the ensemble included many talented college students from NYU interning at TriArts. Every single one is a bundle of talent and they were a joy to watch and laugh with. Kudos to Executive Director Alice Bemand, Artistic Director John Simpkins on an outstanding production.

TriArts Sharon Playhouse is a little over an hours drive from Naugatuck and this show is well-worth the trip. Monty Python fans will thrill to the zaniness and the rest of us can't help but get wrapped up in the silliness of what is essentially a parody of a Broadway musical. This is the only trip to a theater during which I had to stop my car at a marked horse crossing so that three horseback riders could carefully cross the highway.

Coming up next at TriArts is the inaugural production
of their new Stage 2. Their first produced play in over ten years will be Doubt
and runs the weekend of July 11 for five performances. The next mainstage show
will be They're Playing Our Song with Eric Morris and Lauren Marcus.
Neil Simon and Marvin Hamlisch collaborated on this hit musical about an
established composer and his relationship with an aspiring young female
lyricist. It runs July 19 - 28.