Spamalot: School Edition
at Annapolis

Reviewed on December 7, 2019

Annabelle Derrick
Indian Creek
Submitted for publication to Maryland Theatre Guide

Attention all townsfolk! Mayhap the most enthusiastic and phenomenal production of "Spamalot" this squire's laid eye upon was performed just last eve at Annapolis High School!

"Spamalot" is a highly comical musical adaptation of "Monty Python and the Holy Grail", a famous movie by a British comedy troupe released in 1975. The show parodies the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the round table on their quest for the Holy Grail.

Michael Stafford perfectly characterized the bravado and confidence of King Arthur. His interactions with everyone from his Knights to the Lady of the Lake to the voice of God himself were absolutely spot on. Nina Encarnacion as Lady of the Lake enthralled the audience with her powerful and emotive voice. One listening to her could truly believe she herself must have been as enchanting and mystical as her character.

There was never a dull moment when the court of Camelot was onstage! Own McCandless as Sir Dennis Galahad acted as a perfect proxy for the audience. His questioning of the plausibility of the show compounded his already impressive comedic ability and brought the house down. As the first Knight to join up with King Arthur, his intellectual skepticism perfectly countered the nature of a fantasy story and engaged the audience from the very beginning. He shared the spotlight along with Noah McCullers as Sir Lancelot, who managed to portray both murderous anger and flamboyant style to their extremes, flipping with ease at a moment's notice. Both of these actors had superb comedic timing landed their every line and kept the energy of the audience sky high.

For a show with such strong actors, it was unsurprising that those working behind the scenes also displayed incredible talent and drive. From their first note to their last, the orchestra was absolutely flawless. All the players of the Annapolis High School Pit Band managed to guide the actors when the actors would lose their beat in unison, which was impressive to say the least. Another fantastic technical aspect of "Spamalot" was their props, which were the products of Walker Dixon, Lucy O'Brien, Jenna Wooster, and their team's evident hard work. Not only did each prop add comedic value to its scene, but the creativity that went into their design and construction was astronomical. For example, covering the Holy Grail in the same material as a disco ball was absolutely hilarious and played very well. Also highly commendable was the stage crew, led by Amelia Farrell and her team. They made each transition run quickly and every single one went off without a hitch, a rare feat for the amount of changes required.

The sheer energy and humor the actors provided were coupled with seamless work behind the scenes to produce a fantastic and hilarious show. This production served as an important reminder to us all how even amid dark times or difficult circumstances, if you "always look on the bright side of life," you'll make it through with a smile.

Ava Rouse
Indian Creek
Submitted for publication to The Gateway

Annapolis's "Spamalot: School Edition" brought to life a hilariously quirky show through unique theatrical choices and stellar vocal talent.

Stemming from the 1975 film entitled "Monte Python and the Holy Grail", Broadway's "Spamalot", which debuted in 2004, created a cult following due to its outrageous British humor and spontaneous plot line. The movie and musical have different humor, but both turn traditional Arthurian legend into modern comedy.

Throughout the show, Annapolis Senior High School utilized stellar vocal talent, spot-on comedic timing, and creative technical components to keep viewers laughing and on the edge of their seats. The cast remained engaged and energetic through the entirety of the production. The technical components added tremendous character to the scenes without distracting from the action that took place on stage.

The leads in "Spamalot: School Edition" displayed tremendous range, having both impressive acting and singing ability. Nina Encarnacion (Lady of the Lake) shocked audience members with her mature and angelic voice. Not only did the notes in her upper register cascade through the theater, but her rasp let listeners know that she was a star on the rise. Encarnacion's costar, Michael Stafford (King Arthur), quickly became a powerful member of the cast. From his very first scene, viewers could recognize the effort that he put into crafting his character; his accent was spot-on and appropriate, his mannerisms appeared natural, and his vocal tone was rich and fitting of a king. All in all, it was clear that Stafford's effort, combined with his superb vocals and acting, allowed him to pull off his iconic part with ease.

The supporting cast members were true powerhouses of this production. Jenna Wooster (Patsy) took the stage with a quirky attitude fitting of her sidekick-style character. Her timing played well, especially in the song entitled "I'm All Alone" where she discovers the lack of respect the king has for their relationship. Some other standout performers were Mason Standish (God/Brother Maynard), Shea Calhoun (Mrs. Galahad), and Zoe Argabright (Historian). These actors made evident their passion for the stage through their unique acting choices and shone through as creative performers worthy of much recognition.

The technical components at Annapolis Senior High School were impressive for the high school level. The costume design was not only inspired but extensive. The cumulative amount of costumes and costume changes was astonishing and must have taken much skill and organization to keep up with. Another impressive team was the AHS Pit Band. They remained on-beat and cohesive through the whole production and kept the show on pace. All in all, the technical components shone through as impressively fitting and original, without detracting from the activity on stage.

Annapolis Senior High School's production of "Spamalot: School Edition" had viewers laughing the whole way through. The performers and crew made it clear that after putting on a show this entertaining, they are sure to "succeed on Broadway".

Serenity Holmes
Notre Dame Preparatory
Submitted for publication to The Tribruin

Here Ye, Here Ye! Calling all kings, knights, nuns, monks, and coconut horses alike to the "Holy Grail" that is Annapolis High School's production of "Monty Python's Spamalot".

Based off the 1975 cult classic "Monty Python and the Holy Grail", "Monty Python's Spamalot" is a musical comedy that follows King Arthur and his knights on a quest for the Holy Grail. Along their journey, the motley crew encounters an angelic Lady of the Lake, a Not Dead Fred, and even God himself.

Leading this extravaganza is the dreamy and noble Michael Stafford (King Arthur). Stafford (King Arthur) demonstrates robust vocals in songs "The Song That Goes Like This (Reprise)" and "I'm All Alone", while also sustaining an exceptional accent. Stafford (King Arthur) demonstrates impeccable comedic timing and clear chemistry with Nina Encarnacion (Lady of the Lake). Encarnacion portrays the angelic yet grandiose Lady of the Lake brilliantly, and establishes a powerful voice in "Come With Me" and "The Diva's Lament".

Walker Dixon (Sir Robin) portrays the not so "Brave Sir Robin". Dixon's (Sir Robin) comedic and vocal abilities shine through in the showstopper "You Won't Succeed on Broadway", and develops a deeper characterization to his cowardly character. Dixon exhibits his tap talents as well, and impresses audiences with high energy consistently. Also featured, is the priceless Owen McCandless (Sir Dennis Galahad). McCandless delivers an uproarious performance in "The Song that Goes Like This" and elicits many laughs throughout the show.

Not to be forgotten is the hysterical Barrett Mitchell (Not Dead Fred/ Prince Herbert). In these two roles, Mitchell is fully committed to his characters and his characterization is evident in the songs "He is Not Dead Yet" and "Where Are You?/ Here Are You". Depicting the strong yet gentle Sir Lancelot, is Noah McCullers (Sir Lancelot). McCullers provides a precise balance between his acting and singing abilities in the favorite "His Name Is Lancelot".

Supporting the Lady of the Lake, pun intended, are the Laker Girls. The Laker Girls uphold high energy and peppiness throughout the show, and display their dance abilities easily in songs "Laker Girls" and "The Song That Goes Like This (Reprise)". The entire ensemble works as one cohesive unit yet also develops individual characters to continue the storyline.

The set designed by Kelly Frazier and Jill Fisher, is comprised of a grand castle that closely resembles the iconic one from the original movie "Monty Python and the Holy Grail". The castle allows the actors to explore different levels, and makes King Arthur's journey more genuine.

"Spamalot" guarantees peasants and nobles from far and wide a lively time filled with up-tempo tunes and high spirited adventure. Annapolis High School encourages all to "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life".