“Monty Python’s Spamalot” kicked off Starlight Theatre’s 63rd season with a bang! (Photo courtesy of Starlight Theatre)
By: Jacob Elyachar
Monty Python’s Spamalot kicked off the 2013 Starlight Theatre season with a bang!
The three-time Tony Award winner featured outstanding performers, show-stopping numbers and a brilliant script that would make the Monty Python creators Eric Idle and John Cleese, very proud.
One performer that stole the show in particular was Kansas City’s own Janine DiVita, who played the Lady of the Lake.
DiVita soared vocally with her duets with Adam Monley (who played the sarcastic-turned-narcissistic Sir Galahad) and Tom Hewitt (King Arthur) in “The Song That Goes Like This” and “Twice in Every Show” respectively. In addition, she channeled in inner Barbra, Beyoncé, Celine and Tina throughout multiple music numbers including “Find Your Grail” and “The Diva’s Lament.”
In addition to DiVita’s superb performances, keep an eye on Hewitt, Brian Shepard (Not Dead Fred, Prince Herbert) and another Kansas Citian Brian Sears, who plays King Arthur’s loyal sidekick, Patsy, who had solid performances.
Spamalot also had show-stopping numbers and they did an astonishing job of adapting Casey Nicholaw’s Tony-nominated choreography and bringing it to the Starlight stage.
Monty Python fans will be laughing hysterically as they watch both the infamous “Fish-Slapping Dance” come to life in the “Finland” musical number and “I Am Not Dead Yet” that has a little “Thriller” twist to it.
In addition, cheer on the Lady of the Lake’s Laker Girls and be prepared to sing along when the signature Monty Python anthem: “Always Look On the Bright Side of Life” appears twice in the show.
Besides the classic Monty Python gags (do not worry, Knights of Ni and Tim the Enchanter, you were fantastic!), timeless and current pop culture references (“Kung Fu Fighting,” the Aflac duck and “Ring On It”) were all sprinkled throughout the show.
Final thoughts and grade: Monty Python’s Spamalot was a terrific show and unless you are a taunting medieval Frenchman, a killer rabbit or a legless knight, you should definitely check this show out! A+
For more on Starlight’s 2013 season, visit the theatre’s website: http://www.kcstarlight.com/
Nice post. I learn something new and challenging on blogs I stumble upon
every day. It will always be useful to read through content from other authors
and use something from other websites.
Hmm it appears like your website ate my first comment (it was super long) so I guess I’ll just sum it
up what I had written and say, I’m thoroughly
enjoying your blog. I as well am an aspiring blog blogger
but I’m still new to everything. Do you have any points for newbie blog writers?
I’d certainly appreciate it.