“Monty Python’s Spamalot”

[rating=5] There is wildness on Southport Avenue! This time, it is not the “Miracle” of the Cubs playing amazing baseball, but it is The Mercury Theater Chicago, taking us to the incredible, fictional place known as “Camelot”, the wild and wooly musical that was “lovingly” ripped off from the motion picture “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”created by the zany Eric Idle and music by John Du Prez. For those of you who grew up watching the antics of Python’s crew on television, you know just how crazy they were and can anticipate almost every sight gag that takes place. I have a deep feeling that Director L. Walter Stearns was indeed a Python addict.

To capture the hysterical “drama” and comedy of this piece, one must select talent that can handle its content. Stearns, a master of good casting, does it with great style. In fact, looking at the cast list, I was not sure that they could pull it off , but once again, Stearns has proven that he understands the show and has found the right people to tackle the roles in this 2 hours of hysteria on Southport. In this case, just as it was in 2016, hysteria is a pleasant feeling!

“SPAMALOT” is an irreverent musical of the legend of King Arthur’s ( played to perfection by Jonah D. Winston)  quest for the Holy Grail. Spurred on by a plague with a 50% chance of pestilence and famine, Arthur recruits knights to accompany him on his quest in pursuit of the salvation of Camelot, and their own destinies. Along the way they encounter crazy shenanigans including the Lady of the Lake ( Meghan Murphy a/k/a “Big Red” is DYNAMITE) and her Laker Girls, flatulent Frenchmen with flying cows and blood thirsty, killer rabbits. The nights are Karl Hamilton ( who also takes on several other characters, as do the others) as Lancelot, Adam Ross Brody ( who does the amazing “You Won’t Succeed On Broadway”, show-stopping number ) as Sir Robin, David Sajewich  as Sir Galahad and Daniel Smeriglio as Sir Bedevedere. Each of these men must change costumes and characters from scene to scene and with the exception of one mustache mishap ( which was a special time for both actors and audience on opening night, to perfection. When it comes to Python, one cannot tell if the mishaps are indeed mishaps or the intent of the director.

I have seen this show several times, but never with a cast this small in numbers. However, the numbers of actors is unimportant when their talent is so powerful. Adam Fane, who has delighted many audiences with his zany character developments does a number of characters in this show as well. From the opening as the Historian/Narrator, to a wild “Not Dead Yet Fred” to his final Herbert with several others in between and of course one must mention the quality of the work of Greg Foster as Patsy, King Arthur’s trusty sidekick and sound effects man. With the addition of an ensemble composed of Erica Evans, Emma Parssi, Brandon Pisano, Colter Schmidt, Ariel Etena Triunfo and Cameron Turner, the myriad of zany characters created by Idle and company take the stage and create two hours of madcap comedy.

Eugene Dizon is the musical director and with his  5 musicians makes the music fill the theater, never overpowering the performers. The words in a piece like this are of greater import than in most musicals as they are the comedy that is Monty Python! Shanna Vanderwerker’s choreography is smashing. The set (Angie Weber Miller) is fun although there are few minor flaws in the construction that need to be repaired, but this is not an easy one to create on a small space like the Mercury’s stage. The tech aspects are divine with lighting by Denise Karczewski, sound by Carl Wahlstrom, costumes by Tim Hatley and wigs by Kevin Barthel. Matthew Zelinski has done a solid job of assembling the props for this zany piece.

Monty Python was a PBS series in the 1970’s and many of you may recall it. Others may want to Google it and watch a few episodes. This play, as the TV show did, will take you away from the events of the day and current news for a time that , and will make you feel good. We all need a little “feel good” in our lives, especially in today’s climate, so I suggest that you make Monty Python’s Spamalot  a “TO DO LIST” item.

The production will continue Thru – Nov 3, 2019 with performances as follows:

 EXTENDED UNTIL DECEMBER 29TH

Price: $40-$70

Show Type: Musical

Box Office: 773-325-1700

www.MercuryTheaterChicago.com

The theater is located at 3745 N. Southport

Parking in the area is a little tight ( in particular when there is a baseball game or concert at Wrigley Field

so give yourself a little extra time.

Lots of good dining on Southport and nearby.

To see what others are saying about this production, visit

www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at  “Monty Python’s Spamalot”