Monty Python's Spamalot
at South Carroll

Reviewed on February 8, 2020

Leslie Robinson
Severna Park
Submitted for publication to Maryland Theatre Guide

Picture yourself in a "dark and very expensive forest." Add in medieval knights, legendary heroes, and acrobatic cheerleaders. Spice it up with wooden rabbits, puppets and tap dancers and what do you get? If you're lucky, you get South Carroll High School's "Spamalot," an incredible spectacle to behold.

Taking inspiration from the iconic British farce "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," Eric Idle's Tony Award-winning "Spamalot" expertly weaved song and dance into perfectly delightful chaos. In this twist on the Arthurian legend, King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table meet a multitude of zany and dramatic characters as they quest through medieval England for the prized Holy Grail. Bursting with pop culture humor and a complete disregard for the fourth wall, this is a must-see for all!

Sassily stealing the show as the vivacious diva, the Lady of the Lake, Gwen Lillycrop was unforgettable, radiantly demanding "Whatever Happened to My Part?" Her simultaneously hysterical and melodic duet with Sir Galahad (talented tenor Nic Culkin) kept the audience in stitches throughout "The Song That Goes Like This." Leading his bumbling knights with equal parts parental frustration and humor, Tristan Gregor personified the put upon King Arthur with a smooth baritone and consistent acting, making it his own.

However, the noble King would be hopeless without his loyal yet underappreciated manservant Patsy, played admirably by Andrew Dueppen. His shy, loveable character was perfect for bringing smiles to the audience's faces in his song "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life." Brave and slightly homicidal, Ethan Hobbs played Sir Lancelot with thoughtful mannerisms and the necessary confidence. Larger than life antics in "His Name is Lancelot" follow his hilarious rescue of Christian Ryder as the hapless Herbert.

Sparkling with modern-day culture, The Laker Girls brought energy and pizazz to the stage in numbers such as "The Laker Girls." As the main dance ensemble, they demonstrated skill in a multitude of fields, even tap! From playing Finns to Frenchmen to Knights Who Say Ni, the ensemble demonstrated a rare versatility that was instrumental in advancing both the plot and the light-hearted spirit of the show.

Stage Managers Sarah Taylor and Alli Hilderbrand executed their jobs brilliantly, displaying hard work and true precision. Countless diverse, vibrant costumes modeled after the looks from the hit Broadway production were imaginatively created by Alexa Kuykendall, Ari Krach and Miranda Russo with many standout costumes for the Lady of the Lake and her Laker Girls. Even costumed was the excellent SCHS Pit Orchestra whose energetic spirit radiated throughout the diverse score.

South Carroll High School perfectly captured the irreverence of the distinctive Monty Python humor, beloved by generations of movie and theatergoers worldwide. Keeping the audience on the edge of their seats with belly laughs, tapping toes and catchy tunes, the talented cast and crew left a lasting inspirational message on the audience to find their own personal "Grail."

Heather Suesse
Chesapeake
Submitted for publication to The Gateway

Whether you're a king, a knight, or a peasant, you can always find adventure. South Carroll High School took audiences on an adventure back in time with their performance of the famous musical comedy "Monty Python's Spamalot."

The concept of "Monty Python's Spamalot" is based on the 1975 film "Monty Python and The Holy Grail," but the musical is different from the film in many ways. The original Broadway production opened in 2005 and closed in 2009. It received 14 Tony Awards nominations and won three of them, including Best Musical. This musical takes place in medieval England, as King Arthur recruits his Knights of the Round Table, each with a unique personality. When the group meets in Camelot, God sends them on a quest to find the Holy Grail. Along their journeys, the knights and king, along with his sidekick Patsy, encounter strange obstacles to overcome.

South Carroll High School's energetic cast brought each scene to life in new ways and established individuality among characters. This production captured the whimsical and historical aspects that the script of "Monty Python's Spamalot" allows for.

With his mighty presence, Tristan Gregor (King Arthur) anchored the show. His expressions and execution of lines were constantly on point with the mood of each scene. Gwen Lillycrop (Lady of the Lake) brought just the right balance of grace and sass every time she stepped on the stage. She stole the show in each of her songs with the control she had over her gorgeous voice.

Andrew Dueppen (Patsy) portrayed his lovable role by staying consistently engaged in what was going on and maintaining character. His reactions during the song "I'm All Alone" created one of the most memorable moments of the show. Ethan Hobbs (Lancelot) had an excellent amount of attitude in his movements and line delivery. Another actor with extravagant energy was Christian Ryder (Herbert) who had a certain sparkle and seemed very comfortable on the stage. Abi Culkin (Robin) and Nic Culkin (Galahad) were able to show growth as their characters found themselves. The entire ensemble's expressions added liveliness to the show.

As with any show, the stage crew played an important role. The eye-catching costumes, completed by Alexa Kuykendall, and hair and makeup, done by Lauren Logue, captured the distinctiveness among characters. All sound effects from the show were impressively created from scratch by Alex Fleck and Noah Swank. The SC Pit orchestra, organized by Valarie Zanin, did an excellent job with music and played an even bigger role at times by acting along as well. Sarah Taylor and Allison Hilderbrand (stage management) did a wonderful job keeping this difficult show organized. Lastly, the choreography, created completely by Abi Culkin, featured various styles of dance and captivated the audience.

Overall, South Carroll High School's take on the complicated show "Monty Python's Spamalot" was very enjoyable to watch. The hard work put into this performance was evident and made it a success.

Sophia Smith
Indian Creek
Submitted for publication to The Tribruin

Through the depths of the castle, into the villages of England, and outside Camelot, the bravest of knights undertake the adventure of a lifetime in search of the Holy Grail... in other words, a golden cup. So, who isn't looking for the holy grail? With the help of their audience, South Carroll High School found it during their production of "Monty Python's Spamalot."

"Monty Python's Spamalot," based on the cult classic parody, "Monty Python and Holy Grail" won the Tony Award for "Best Musical" and Grammy Award for "Best Musical Show Album." Eric Idle and John Du Prez wrote the book, lyrics using hilarious and brain-dead British humor. Songs like "I am Not Dead Yet" and "I'm All Alone" left the diverse audience wanting more.

Quoting Sir Robin, "You won't succeed in Showbiz if you haven't got a star." Well, as a Senior in high school, Gwen Lillycrop shined her role as the Lady of the Lake. Lillycrop captivated the audience's attention from the moment she "washed up" on the stage. She seemed to have no problem singing the highest of highs and lowest of lows while accentuating her vibrato. Her stand out performance, "Whatever Happened to my Part?" captured her fierce facial expressions and comedic moments.

Leading the adventure, King Arthur, played by Tristan Gregor, worked alongside his sidekick, Patsy, played by Andrew Dueppen. The dynamic duo found their knights and began their journey. Gregor and Dueppen began the ride in the castle with "King Arthur's Song" and continued the comic relief till the very end. While working with the diva herself, Gregor and Lillycrop shared a connection as the Lady of the Lake honored Arthur as the King.

Between the sections of expensive forests, Herbert's castle captured some of the funniest aspects of the show. As Herbert (Christian Ryder) sent a mysterious love letter to Lancelot (Ethan Hobbs), Lancelot is under the impression he is going to be the hero and save the princess. Ryder's enthusiastic and charismatic tone compelled the audience to dance with him and share his pride. Between Hobbs and Ryder, the disco costumes were everything.

"Spamalot" does not require many complex technical aspects, yet, South Carroll's Crew incorporated many new aspects to spice up the already hysterical show. The Light Design by Madison Trester integrated the tone and blocking of the scene with the color of lighting on the backdrop. Making every single sound effect from scratch, Alex Fleck and Noah Swank, coordinated the sound and mic plot for the show with recognizable passion.

It's impressive to see many students reaching the International Thespian Society and Honor Bar status, I'd say those who didn't see the show missed out, but no need to fear, South Carroll High School presents "Spamalot" through the end of next week, "Same Time. Same Place. Same Stage."