Spamalot, the musical “lovingly ripped off” from the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail will make for something completely different at Joburg Theatre.
Journalists and bloggers were given a sneak preview of this very silly, seriously funny production at a rear-stage media party with the director, producer and cast.
The show, a parody of the Grail Romances about King Arthur and the Round Table knights’ quest for the legendary cup meets Broadway musical, will open at the theatre on 11 July.
“Spamalot’s silly, and a whole lot of nonsense… It’s just wonderful,” said executive producer Bernard Jay.
“It’s a great, big Broadway musical, but it’s also Monty Python – and this one will be more intimate than the original version.”
Norman Anstey will play the role of England’s once and future king, while Michelle Botha will take on the role of mystical diva, the Lady of the Lake.
Bongi Mthombeni will play Patsy, King Arthur’s under appreciated servant and horse, Grant Towers the cowardly Sir Robin the Brave, LJ Urbani will play Sir Lancelot, Clive Gilson will play “lower-class mud-gatherer” Sir Dennis Galahad, Liam J Stratton will play Sir Bedevere, and Adrian Poulsen will take on the role of the “hopeful but frilly” Prince Herbert.
Cameron Botha, Kent Jeycocke, Natasha van der Merwe, Maryanne van Eyssen, Michael Riff Themba, Samuel Hyde and Caitlin Kilburn will play everybody else.
Executive producer, Jay said the choice of the theatre’s resident production manager, Simon James, as designer and director of the local production was a natural one.
“James has been the theatre’s production manager for the past 12 or 13 years, and a lot of shows wouldn’t have happened here, if it were not for him,” said Jay.
“I’d often walk into James’ office, and he’d be there with his headphones on. Whenever I asked him what he was listening to, he’d say it’s Monty Python… So I asked him to please direct Spamalot – and to design it, too.”
James said it was an honour to direct the show.
“It’s a show that, once you’ve seen it, you fall in love with it and laugh a lot,” he said.
Monty Python’s Spamalot will run from 11 July until 10 August at Joburg Theatre, corner of Simmonds and Stiemens streets, Braamfontein.
Details: 0861 670 670; www.joburgtheatre.com
WATCH: Camelot from Monty Python and the Holy Grail:
