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Theatre Review: Spamalot - Playhouse Theatre, London ✭✭✭✭✭

SPAMALOT
Playhouse Theatre

Tues 25th June 2013: First of all, I've never seen anything to do with Monty Python, ever! I must be still living under a rock according to some people. So in my first ever outing to Spamalot at the Playhouse Theatre I didn't know what to expect. And what did I get? A laugh a minute spectacle of gigantic proportions.

Monty Python's Spamalot is a musical comedy "lovingly ripped off from" the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. A parody of the Arthurian Legend, with some very witty music and lyrics from Eric Idle and John Du Prez, this show had me stitches throughout.

Joe Pasquale's King Arthur has great comedic timing, his stage presence is gracious throughout, and he can't but help laugh out loud on stage when things start to go awry, taking the rest of the company with him. Michael Burgen plays a very good sidekick Patsy, especially singing the infamous Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life. Adam Ellis' Prince Herbert is fantastically camp, his voice tremendous in the high falsetto moments.

But the highlight of the show for me is Bonnie Langford as Lady of the Lake - Oh my, what an incredible voice! The Song That Goes Like This is an absolute gem in musical theatre, when partnered with Jon Robyns' Sir Galahad, everyone in the audience was in fits of laughter.

The set is nothing technical like the bigger budget shows in the West End, but it doesn't need to be, it works well as it is with an opening upstage for various entrances etc. The band were on top form, led by Matt Malone, and the sound was excellent, sounding fresh, crisp and clear, even with Mr Pasquale's quiet vocals at times in some of the numbers.



Spamalot is one of these shows where you can go and forget about your troubles for a while, and just be purely entertained in a rather splendid way. Whether you know anything about Monty Python or not, this is one of the funniest shows in the West End, and without doubt a must see. Well done to all involved.

Five stars ✭✭✭✭✭

Listings Information

Current Performance times: 
Monday – Saturday at 8.00pm, Matinee performances on Wednesday and Saturday at 2.30pm

New Summer Schedule, starting on 1st July 2013:
Monday – Thursday at 8.00pm, Friday at 6pm and 9pm, Saturday at 2.30pm and 8.00pm (no Wednesday matinee)

THE PLAYHOUSE THEATRE, Northumberland Avenue, London, WC2N 5DE
Tickets: £15 - £65. ON SALE NOW
Running time: 2 hours – this one doesn’t drag on!

www.spamalotwestend.co.uk

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