Monty Python's Spamalot
at Thomas S. Wootton High School

Reviewed on March 30, 2019

Beverly D'Andrea
Westfield High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

The trick to combining man-eating rabbits with Ni-ing knights is a dry humor and plenty of zany numbers. Spamalot is a witty satire of chivalry, with the typical wide range of Monty Python-esque puns. From limbless knights to ones with altogether too many "Ni's", Wootton High School delivered a rollicking rendition of the side-splitting satire, Spamalot.

The show follows the quest of King Arthur as he rounds up a band of eccentric knights, and they pursue they Holy Grail. On their travels they encounter colorful characters and cockamamie predicaments. But, eventually, after much searching, each one finds their Grail.

The show is based on the movie, Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The book and lyrics were written by Eric Idle with music by John Du Prez and Eric Idle. Spamalot opened on Broadway with a bang, in 2005, winning the Tony for best musical with 13 other nominations.

In the role of King Arthur, was Zack Cassidy cutting a striking figure astride his nonexistent horse. Cassidy's sincerely earnest portrayal of the well intentioned-king, lent a believable reality to some of his characters more harebrained adventures. With powerful vocals in his song "I'm All Alone", a commanding presence, and hilarious deadpan comedy in the face of coconut carrying swallows and other ridiculous situations, Cassidy pulled off a strong performance. King Arthur's sidekick, Patsy was played by Olivia Speck. Speck's large facial expressions coupled with her endearing physicalization of the slightly clumsy but loyal Patsy made the character an eye-magnet and her every movement garnered a laugh. Even the simplest actions, Speck enlarged and took to another level of hilarity, making the clop of coconuts an uproarious occasion.

The interaction of Arthur and Patsy during "I'm All Alone" was rib-splitting to watch. Both comedic geniuses played off each other's work to form a scene fraught with mounting annoyance on the part of Patsy and oblivious self-pity by Arthur.

The fearful, Broadway-loving knight, Sir Robin was played by Charlotte Bergel. Bergel's large, clear physicality and stunning vocals made her Sir Robin an engaging, pitiably funny presence on stage. In her song "You Won't Succeed on Broadway" Bergel's combination of fluid acting, skillful vocals, and jazzy tap routine put together a vibrant, over the top, all stops pulled performance. The lovely Lady of the Lake was played by Alyssa Herman, with diva undertones and captivating presence. Herman's extravagant performance of the lady, complete with operatic vocals and melodramatic lamentation of her lacking stage time, showed a true commitment to her role. Herman's comedic timing in her already witty songs lent the entertaining lyrics even more comedic energy. Through energized acting and complemented by superb vocals, the Lady of the Lake was a whirlwind of effervescence.

In an all over the place show with bizarre characters, the tech department had a large role to play and Wootton's tech came through. The lighting, designed by Aviva Kram, was used powerfully to show changes in the scenes, especially the golden light in the scenes where God appeared. The props, designed by Kristin LaMonaca, added to the droll humor of the show. The blood around the mouth of the man-eating bunny added spirit. The set, designed by Alexandra Blowers, was extremely effective at giving a sense of location while still providing space for the large dance numbers. The attention to minute detail on the set was impressive with every paint stroke exact.

Throughout all the craziness and madcap adventure, Wootton High School truly did find their Grail and brought us along for the ride.

Andie Bisk
Albert Einstein High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

If you're not yet dead, you must find the Holy Grail that is Wootton High School's hilarious production of Monty Python's Spamalot. Based off the classic movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Eric Idle's brainchild was adapted into the musical Spamalot. First opening on Broadway in 2005, it garnered rave reviews and 14 Tony nominations, and won Best New Musical (as well as a slew of other prestigious awards).

The show opens with a professional-sounding overture played by the Wootton Pit Orchestra, not shying away from their own jabs at humorous moments. We are then greeted with fantastically executed songs sung by the talented cast, each one containing loads of hilarity and the kind of absurdity that keeps people enthralled by Monty Python to this day. King Arthur (played by Zack Cassidy) was an absolute marvel, with fabulous comedic timing, and expressive physicality seen throughout all his scenes. He is followed by the loyal and delightfully daft Patsy (Olivia Speck), whose facial expressions were captivating and absolutely hilarious. Their ensemble dynamic was thrilling to watch and had the audience in stitches. This is evident in the song "I'm All Alone," in which Arthur sings about being so dreadfully alone… when Patsy has literally been beside him for the entirety of the show. Speck and Cassidy played off of each other's energies in such a fashion that it was impossible not to stare in wonder at the mastery they were able to achieve in their respective roles.

While some actors were onstage for substantially shorter amounts of time than others, these actors definitely proved the saying that there are no "small roles." This was witnessed through the excellent and side-splitting scene involving Not Dead Fred (Robert Summers-Berger), where we watched him burst with energy across the length of the stage singing about how not-dead he is. This same level of memorability was achieved by Sir Robin (Charlotte Bergel), whose tap-dancing skills were phenomenal, especially in her principle song "You Won't Succeed on Broadway."

One of the most captivating roles, however, was Prince Herbert (played by Sean Klein). His comedic timing was incredible, playing off of the chaotic energy of his Father (Vishrut Shukla). Klein was able to beautifully sing in a high register in songs like "Where are You?" while also being brilliant at being able to sport a Carmen Miranda hat while sing the high energy song "His Name is Lancelot" at the same time. This level of "extraness," however was not to be surpassed by the Lady of the Lake herself, played by the wonderful and talented Alyssa Herman. While not on the stage for very long (which she laments about in the song "Whatever Happened to my Part"), her sass and charisma was palpable.

However, a majority of the singing was sadly overpowered by the orchestra. While the orchestra was wonderful and sounded incredible, it became difficult at times to hear many of the actors. The problem improved slightly by Act Two, but it was still rather noticeable. This unfortunate setback was also heightened by the quality of the sound system in place, with much of the sound being "swallowed up" by either the auditorium or just not reaching very far due to the condition of the microphones being used. This however, was not too major of a drawback due to the excellence of the actors' skills. They were able to project their voices as much as possible and made up for the lack of volume through their physicality.

Everything considered, Wootton High School's production of Monty Python's Spamalot is *insert French accent* art.

Margarita Gamarnik
South Lakes High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

With their performance of Monty Python's Spamalot, Thomas S. Wootton High School transports audiences to medieval England, where losing a limb elicits the response "tis but a scratch" and a shrubbery is considered highly desirable. In this exciting production of the classic farce comedy, Wootton proves that anything can be accomplished through positive thinking, persistence, and a little bit of divine assistance.

Monty Python's Spamalot previewed in Chicago before beginning its Broadway run in 2005. It was highly praised by critics and audience members alike, winning the Tony Award for Best Musical and garnering a total of 14 nominations. The story revolves around Arthur, King of the Britons, who is ordered by God himself to embark on a quest to find the Holy Grail. Along with his Knights of the Round Table and noble friend Patsy, Arthur overcomes obstacles in the most ludicrous way possible in order to reach his goal, encountering adventure and finding love along the way.

The action within Spamalot was driven by King Arthur, played skillfully by Zack Cassidy. Cassidy assumed the eccentric persona of the quirky king expertly, lending sharp comedic timing and a commanding voice to the leading role. The effortless chemistry between Cassidy and Olivia Speck as the king's constant companion Patsy was highlighted in the number "I'm All Alone," made especially memorable by Speck's hilarious reactions to Cassidy's laments. The duo continued to charm audience members throughout the show, from the comical clapping of coconut shells to simulate the king's trotting horse, to Arthur's eventual heartwarming declaration about his pal: "Patsy is family!"

Portraying the not-so-brave Knight of the Round Table, Sir Robin, was Charlotte Bergel. Bergel consistently lit up the stage with her expressive face, resonant vocal quality, and fantastic dancing. Following her character's development from a fearful knight to an exuberant musical theatre performer was like watching a cautious caterpillar find its wings as a boisterous butterfly, and one who is a fierce tap dancer at that! Bergel's energy in "You Won't Succeed on Broadway" made the number an altogether joyful experience and a highlight of the production.

The company of Spamalot consisted of extremely versatile singers, dancers, and actors that were always engaged and committed to furthering (or hindering) King Arthur on his quest. The dynamic Lady of the Lake, played by Alyssa Herman, showcased impressive vocals and a captivating diva persona in the powerful ballad "Whatever Happened to My Part". Another standout in the show was Robert Summers-Berger as Not Dead Fred, whose lively facial expressions and enthusiastic movements never failed to evoke a laugh. Sean Klein's Herbert was a delight, with a beautifully smooth voice and an adorable personality that juxtaposed brilliantly with Matthew Sachs as the bold and brutish knight Sir Lancelot.

From the gigantic wooden rabbit meant to "Trojan Horse" the relentless French taunters to the extravagant oversized playing cards in the sparkling Camelot montage, the creative props in the show contributed to the terrific absurdity of the tale. The Wootton Pit Orchestra, made up of all student musicians, delivered an extremely strong performance, marked with expertly executed comedic bits including a cleverly placed cymbal crash.

The Wootton cast, crew, and pit orchestra concluded their vibrant production of Monty Python's Spamalot with a reminder to "always look on the bright side of life," leaving audience members with a smile on their faces and a catchy tune inside their hearts.

Matthew Bue
Albert Einstein High School
Submitted for publication to Maryland Theater Guide

Hear ye hear ye, Thomas S. Wooton high school's production of Spamalot is a roaring good time and will have you laughing before the end of the overture. Based on Monty Python's 1975 film Holy Grail, the show follows most of the plot points in the movie, a parody of Arthurian tales, with a couple of classic skits and songs thrown in for good measure. The 2005 hit Broadway musical received Tony nominations in 14 categories and took home 3, including best musical. Lyrics written by Python alum Eric Idle the show is both a celebration of the group's successes and greatest hits as well as a lampooning of American Broadway show's staple elements.

The original Arthur on Broadway was legendary actor Tim Curry. In this production the responsibility of king of the Britains is shouldered by Zach Cassidy who gives an excellent performance as the self-righteous ruler on a quest for the holy grail. His voice and intonation were a comfortable mix of Curry's gusto and Graham Chapman's original 75' Arthur. Patsy, Arthur's loyal sidekick, was also deftly played by Olivia Speck who shouldered her own burdens in the form of comedic levity, the classic coconut shells being one, and a literal over encumbered backpack filled with various props and sundries. However, a review of the show would not be complete without mention of the female cast's talent in this male heavy show. Charlotte Bergel (Sir Robin) and Alyssa Herman (Lady of the Lake) were some of the standouts, as a dancer and singer respectively. Bergel's number "You Won't Succeed on Broadway" established her as a triple threat, acting, singing, and dancing her heart out. Whereas Alyssa Herman's literal show stealing "Whatever Happened to My Part" shows off her incredible singing bravado as well as Python's signature meta comedy.

The ensemble in the show did a good job changing in and out of costume for the different groups and various featured characters, which each arguably play just as important a part of the comedy as the lead and supporting characters. The importance of wacky, zany, and surprisingly intelligent characters was not lost on the directors of the show which mainly stood out in casting of Robert Summers-Berger (Not Dead Fred) who not only nailed Python member Terry Jones's iconic voice but was also a surprisingly spirited dancer.

Something that really touched the Python fan in me was the use of the original show and movie graphics on a projected screen. This was used as both a scene dressing and character design when god came down to convene with his loyal knights. The Wooton Pit Orchestra was also a character in itself with its own written gags that either connected to the cast or the audience all the while playing the score excellently.

This musical was a delight to see, constantly making the audience laugh and reminding us to always look on the bright side of life. For anyone who has missed their favorite group of British jesters I'd suggest taking a stop by Thomas S. Wooton's production of Spamalot for a good feeling and a good laugh.