Legitimate Theater: Spamalot (2005)

Spamalot

Welcome to Legitimate Theater: a column dedicated to movie-based stage musicals. The goal of this series is to explore those stories that originated in films and eventually worked their way onto Broadway and beyond. By the end of each entry, there will hopefully be a better understanding of this odd but rampant trend in modern entertainment. Are these stories really worth telling through song and dance? How can it even compare to the technical prowess of a camera and seamless editing? Join me on this quest as I explore the highs and lows of this trend on the third Wednesday of every month and hopefully answer what makes this Legitimate Theater.

Opening

Following the success of The Producers, Eric Idle decided that he wanted to get into the Broadway game. Like Mel Brooks, he decided to tackle his most beloved work, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, finding something rich in its memorable songbook to put onstage with the accompaniment of razzle-dazzle. The results would lead the show to several Tony wins including Best Musical, establishing itself as one of the best shows of the year. With all of this said, was it more than a knock-off of the trend of self-referential musicals? Maybe it could get by on being a tribute to one of England's funniest comedy troupes. Whatever it was, it was a hit and one that wasn't going to die without a fight. 

A Quick Background

Tony Nominations: 3 wins including Best Musical, and 11 nominations

Based on: Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

Music: John Du Prez, Eric Idle

Lyrics: Eric Idle

Book: Eric Idle

Prominent Actors: Tim Curry, Sara Ramirz, Michael McGrath, Hank Azaria, Christopher Sieber, David Hyde Pierce, Christian Borle

Soundtrack

1. "Historian's Introduction to Act 1/Finland"
2. "Monk's Chant/He Is Not Dead Yet"
3. "Come With Me/Laker Girls Cheer"
4. "The Song That Goes Like This"
5. "All For One"
6. "Knights of the Round Table"
7. "Find Your Grail"
8. "Run Away"
9. "The Intermission"
10. "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life"
11. "Brave Sir Robin"
12. "You Won't Succeed on Broadway"
13. "Diva's Lament"
14. "Where Are You?/His Name is Lancelot"
15. "I'm All Alone"
16. "Twice In Every Show"
17. "Act II Finale"
18. "Always Look On the Bright Side of Life"

Note: Listen to the music here

Song Exploration

Opening Song:
"Historian's Introduction to Act 1/Finland"

If you wanted to see a Monty Python show, you came to the right place. Of course, this can't start off without a few hiccups. The most noteworthy is the misleading, finding a way to make the story set in England fall apart within minutes as a song about Finland breaks out and we're exposed to a wonderfully confusing number that takes Finnish culture to an absurd place. By the time that things are corrected, there's a revelation that this is the type of show we're signed up for: one that will be making fun of the very structure of musicals. It's both part of its charm and a tiring gimmick that threatens to overshadow the already memorable Monty Python material. 

Carryovers

"Monk's Chant/He Is Not Yet Dead," "Knights of the Round Table" 
"Always Look on the Bright Side of Life," "Brave Sir Robin" 

On the surface, it makes sense why Monty Python (more specifically Eric Idle) would want to take this to the stage. There was already a decent repertoire of songs to pull from, and it reflects the manic joy to which this show will face. While these songs are largely carryover in their central motifs, they all have some tweaks or variations that make it satirizing of Broadway culture, meaning that it's not a complete lift. Still, the moments that land remind you of why this film has withstood the test of time for so long. It's delightful, silly, and makes you want to sing along, especially if you're a Monty Python fan. 

High Point:

"Monk's Chant/He Is Not Yet Dead"

I wish that I could say that the latter half of the soundtrack was all that fun, but this show is mostly self-aware gags that go from being about The Holy Grail to tired theater tropes. Early on however, it manages to expand on the familiar and make one of the funniest additions to the soundtrack with "He Is Not Yet Dead" managing to be turned into the great song and dance number that we're waiting for. It's upbeat, managing to get you moving and have a good time while establishing the story in significant ways. For what the show lacks later on, it doesn't here as everything kicks into perfect gear.

Low Point:

"Twice in Every Show

Did I mention that the self-awareness hurts this show? I want to love it more, but what we have here is a show that is so in love with making fun of Broadway that it ceases to have a true identity. At this moment, we're winking at the fact that there are these dramatic songs in shows that are by nature ridiculous. While the first time was humorous, by this time we're left with an overbeating desire to stop with the self-referencing and just get back to what we came here to do: hear Pythonesque jokes set to song. This may qualify as an homage, but it's nowhere near the funniest thing that this show has produced.

What Does It Bring to the Story?

Whereas the film comments on its cheap budget and lampoons Medieval culture with brisk force, this musical is more obsessed with making fun of the medium to which it exists. While there's a central story that exists, the new songs are largely pastiches that comment on its silly existence, noting how a Broadway show needs Jewish funding or gay actors. It's all stuff that The Producers did better, making the Tony-winning nature of this show all the more confusing. 

Was This Necessary?

No

While I do love Monty Python and the Holy Grail, I feel disappointed in this show's inability to just be a loving spoof of something like Camelot. Even just making all of the scenes set to song would've been better than stealing The Producers' schtick. Whereas it seemed revolutionary a few years prior, this feels like tired gags holding back a far more entertaining show that has its moments, but feels like a forgettable, bargain-basement version of something like A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. It'll suffice for fans, but even they deserved something a little better. Given that Something Rotten! was only a decade off and a much stronger show, one begins to realize how much better this show could've been on every front.