Hilarious musical numbers, ridiculous slapstick choreography, and an absolutely silly storyline about the very serious King Arthur and his quest for the Holy Grail had audiences laughing in their seats for three nights during George Mason’s production of “Spamalot” last week.
The show, which ran from November 16-18, did not disappoint. With a tremendous lead performance from junior Miles Jackson (as King Arthur), the actors’ passion and vigor was evident in each and every song, dance, and scene; and the cast pulled off every joke flawlessly, even adding their own bit of flair. The singing and choreography surpassed expectations and made the show of professional quality. By working in tandem with sets, costumes, lighting, and sound, the cast created a tremendous experience that left audiences blown away.
“Spamalot” is a Broadway adaptation of the classic British 1975 comedy “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” and reflected a comedic take on King Arthur’s quest for the Holy Grail.
The cast in George Mason’s performance portrayed the timeless show with enthusiasm, wit, and spot-on comedic timing. Jackson gave a strong lead performance as King Arthur, nailing every musical number and displaying a wide range of emotions, along with his leading female actress, senior DeDe Colbert who played Arthur’s ultimate love, the Lady of the Lake, also known as Guinevere.
Colbert flawlessly embodied the diva of the show and blew audiences away with her incredible vocals.
There were many supporting characters that supplied laughs, as well as depth to the plot through storylines and character development of their own. King Arthur’s trusty assistant Paddy (Will Langan, senior) held his deadpan sidekick role perfectly throughout. From the over-confident Lancelot (Michael Curtin, senior) to the wimpy Robin (Morgan O’Keefe, senior), and the always befuddled Dennis/Galahad (Charlie Boland, senior), the audience was able to experience an incredible diversity of actors.
One of the most impressive parts of the show, however, was the many featured roles and ensembles that made appearances. These included the French Knights, the Laker Girls, the Ni Knights, the angels, the guards, God (played by our own principal, Mr. Matt Hills), and many, many more. These characters, though not always crucial to the main plot of the show, added slapstick humor, absurd costumes, and crazy accents. The silliness of them all truly made the show.
The technical aspects of the show were not necessarily extravagant, but rather used their simplicity to give the actors a chance to shine. The set provided a variety of uses, with a hill and castle doors that added levels along with a beautifully painted background. Lighting and sound cues added even more to the setting and were able to differentiate locations during King Arthur’s journey.
The orchestra did an outstanding job in the pit by working together to create a musical tone that had audience members simultaneously dancing and laughing.
These hard-working, behind-the-scenes groups acted as the glue that held the show together and made watching it truly a delight.
