Roy Berko
A reviewer said of the original production, "It's UNFAIR to make me laugh this much!” I wish I could say that of the touring show. Unfortunately, I can’t. This production seems to be missing some of the abandonment needed to really get the audience to let loose.
That’s not to say the show is bad. It’s not. But, it seems a little uninspired, a little too much on automatic pilot, and not as zany as it could be or has been in previous incarnations. We need more ridiculous farce and less-Hamlet drama!
To see a full review of this show, read Roy Berko's blog here.
Howard Gollop
Nothing seems so fresh as "Spam," especially when it's mixed and stirred with an unrelentingly hilarious dollop of "Camelot." But the better surprise on Playhouse Square's launch of a new Broadway tour of "Spamalot" is that the non-stop comedy cavalcade of King Arthur shenanigans seems fresher than ever. It remains the holy grail of musical comedy.
To see a full review of this show, read Howard Gollop's review here.
Mark Horning
For adult fans of Monty Python this show is a feast of one liners and quotables well loved since 1975 when the film premiered. The action is lighting fast as the just little over two hours whisk by at a breakneck pace. With this limited run do not delay on getting your tickets.
To see a full review of this show, read Mark Horning's Review here.
Laura Kennelly
Spamalot---a comic, irreverent look at King Arthur, the “Camelot” era, and life in general—dropped by for a visit at Playhouse Square’s Connor Palace December 1—6.
Opening media night (the middle of only six shows) attracted avid Monty Python fans of all ages. Cleveland, the first city on the latest national tour of the classic satire (Broadway debut in 2005) has seen it before, but that didn’t seem to matter---everyone still laughed The original Broadway production was nominated for fourteen Tony Awards and won three, including Best Musical.
A good joke is a good joke and Spamalot with book and lyrics by Eric Idle and music by John Du Prez and Eric Idle enjoys an abundance. It might help to see the 1974 film it’s based on before you go (Monty Python and the Holy Grail) because last night’s dialogue flew by so fast and furious some funny got lost.
But the show’s over-the-top bits are impossible to miss. Of course, in Spamalot nothing is taken seriously, especially not death. In an opening scene, plague victims rise up from the body-collecting wagon. One vigorous one (Steven Telsey) sang loudly “I Am Not Dead Yet” as workers kept trying to pile him on the wagon.
The indefatigable Telsey shone again in another memorable scene that involved the fluffy-white “Killer Rabbit” who had to be destroyed by the “Holy Hand Grenade.” Fur blown off, jock-strap clad Telsey gave it his all in a comic race offstage.
.
To see a full review of this show, read Laura's posts at Cool Cleveland.
Gwendolyn Kochur
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Gwendolyn's posts here.
Dr. Yuko Kurahashi
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Yuko's posts here.
Joey Morona
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Joey's posts here.
