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Holy Grail! Spamalot comes to the Peace Center
Popular Broadway play travels to Greenville for six nights
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They are the seekers of the Holy Grail.
They are the finders of the Castle Anthrax.
They are the Knights who say “Ni!”
They are the cast of the touring production of the Broadway smash hit, “Spamalot,” and they are coming our way.
From Tuesday through April 13, “Monty Python’s Spamalot” will be featured at the Peace Center for the Performing Arts in Greenville. The show is one of the most anticipated ever in the center’s Broadway series and is likely to be one of the most well-attended shows the center has ever had.
The script was written by Eric Idle, who was an original Python troupe member and played Sir Robin the Not-Quite-So-Brave-as-Sir Lancelot. It includes material from the film, “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” as well as other Python films such as “Life of Brian.” It’s something of a love letter to Python fans the world over — a love letter spiked with the usual Python absurdity.
“It’s like a rock concert for Python fans to the point where, by the end, they are cheering and laughing and all that,” said Esther Stilwell, who plays the “Lady of the Lake” in this traveling production. “Even those who know nothing about the movie will get into it … eventually.”
The plot of “Spamalot” is similar to that of “Holy Grail.” King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table are set upon a mission from God (voice of Python vet John Cleese) to find the Holy Grail. In their attempts to find it, they encounter all manner of ridiculous perils, wacky adventures and more than a few Frenchmen.
Gary Beach took over the role of King Arthur in the tour a couple of months ago. While he found it challenging to adapt to a show already in progress, it was something he knew he wanted to do.
“I’m a fan, of course, and it’s great stuff to recreate,” Mr. Beach said. “And with the audiences there who hear the coconuts and start laughing in anticipation, it’s amazing to experience.”
Without giving too much away, Mr. Beach said the show follows the film rather closely, but expands on it in some areas. For instance, rather than just talking about Camelot and deciding not to go, the knights go to that “silly place” and see its insanity for themselves.
Mr. Beach said that the Camelot in “Spamalot” is like Las Vegas, with showgirls and roulette and more. Once they arrive, it’s only God (Mr. Cleese) who can get them back on track.
The show is also rife with current pop culture references that have been big hits with audiences.
“The surprises just keep coming,” Ms. Stilwell said. “At one point (audiences) will be quoting lines, and then the songs come and they just sit back and laugh.”
Tickets are still available, at $55 to $75 each, through the Peace Center box office or by calling 800.888.7768. For more information, go online to www.peacecenter.org.
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