Manic Expression

I don’t think I’ve kept any big secret about how much I like Monty Python. In particular, I even shared my review of Monty Python and the Holy Grail with a lot of you – which is one of my all-time favorite movies. When I heard there was a Broadway show based on the movie, I wanted to see it so badly. It became up there with The Producers in terms of Broadway shows I’d love to see. I’ve yet to see The Producers, (on-stage anyway, I have seen the movie in theaters) but I have seen Spamalot.

To be honest, unlike the other parts of this trifecta, there’s not much backstory to seeing this one, but it is part of the story. It was December – the week before finals. During my time at KSU, I rarely went home on the weekend before finals. I’d be home for a month, what was the need? But for Spamalot, I’d be more than willing to make an exception.

Unfortunately, something happened that threw a kink into my plans – my friends were throwing an end of the semester Christmas party. It really wasn’t a question of whether I’d go to the party or Spamalot. It was a question of how I’ddo both. Eventually, I decided to come home for Spamalot, then go back up to Kent for my friends’ party. Is thereanything else to say about the events leading up to Spamalot?

Ooh, I had my fourth standup show before I left for home. Yeah, I was going to the Stone Tavern – a place where I had previously gone down in flames. But I had some new material that I really wanted to tryout. Unfortunately, when I cut the stuff that didn’t work from my last act (particularly a dated Taylor Swift-Kanye West joke), my bit was kind of skimpy.So I sort of threw together whatever I had on my mind. Here’s the video (Warning – Language):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvSsIa9Gv9U

Some of you may have watched that before – ever wonder why it sounds like it was strung together at the last minute? That’sbecause it was. I was writing my routine pretty much up to the night of the show. On the bright side, my stream of consciousness-style humor did give meone of my best bits – Bob Dylan porn star.

Like I said before, I had wanted to see this show for the longest time and it did NOT disappoint. The show really captured the flavor of the movie. Want an example? Just like the movie, the program has gag credits. So I was laughing even before the show started. Naturally, a lot ofthe humor is taken from the movie. But there is enough new material that it’sstill worth the effort.

Some scenes are expanded to fit a musical – like asong called “Not Dead Yet.” Some songs spoof Broadway traditions such as “TheSong That Goes Like This.” There are also a few Monty Python cross-references.“Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” is featured, and the afore mentioned“Not Dead Yet” alludes to the “Lumberjack Song.” Also, just as Holy Grail used the art of film to its advantage, Spamalot lampoons themechanics of a Broadway show. I won’t give away how they did the Killer Rabbit,but it was one of the biggest laughs of the night. There's also some crowd interactivity, but that would also be giving too much away.

Overall, I can’t recommend Spamalot enough. I had a blast seeing it, and I’m sure any fan of Monty Python will enjoy it. Now if only TheProducers would come to my neck of the woods…

So that’s what I like to call the tri-fecta of awesome shows. It was a fun time in my life, and I really enjoyed taking this trip down memory lane. Next week, I'll be presenting my encounter with Mick Foley.