Spamalot

Musicals

West End

Playhouse Theatre

Until Sat Nov 2

Anna Jane Casey and Stephen Tompkinson Production Shot 1.JPG

Anna Jane Casey and Stephen Tompkinson © www.matrixpictures.co.uk

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Time Out says

Wed Nov 21 2012

Current cast includes Robin Armstrong as Arthur and Sarah Earnshaw as the Lady of the Lake

After much initial hype, Eric Idle's Monty Python musical clip-clopped out of town in 2009 on a note of faint anti-climax. But general consensus is that 'Spamalot' was renewed on its lengthy UK tour, slimming down, sharpening up and wisely losing one baffling song about Broadway audiences.

This lithe show impressed critics at the Harold Pinter Theatre over the summer; now it's back for the long haul. But with the second honeymoon over, I can't help but think that 'Spamalot' again proves itself to be merely decent.

Hearteningly for a musical, it's the songs that work best: the original Python numbers ('Camelot', 'Brave Sir Robin', a slightly gratuitous 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life') are all giddily mad and entirely delightful, while the Andrew Lloyd Webber-spoofing 'new' ditties 'The Song that Goes Like This' and 'The Diva's Lament' are a real hoot.

But 'Spamalot' still falls between two stools: for much of its length it is content to merely pay cosy scene-for-scene tribute to the brilliant 1975 film 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail', but somewhere around the middle it suddenly decides to become a satirical musical about putting on a musical. The two strands never feel entirely comfortable with each other.

Current star Stephen Tompkinson might have held it all together with a more forceful performance, but while his louche King Arthur is endearing, he tends to look like an amused spectator rather than a leading man, and he corpses something rotten. The rest of the cast look the part, and Anna-Jane Casey brings a phenomenal set of pipes as the Lady of the Lake, but there's no sense of Pythonic anarchy in this pleasant night out.

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Venue details

MAP

Name:
Playhouse Theatre
Address:
Playhouse Theatre Northumberland Avenue
London
WC2N 5DE

Phone:
020 7492 9930
Website:
www.ambassadortickets.com
Transport:
Embankment tube
Map
1. Playhouse Theatre
  - Northumberland Avenue
    London
    WC2N 5DE
  - 020 7492 9930
  - www.ambassadortickets.com
  - 51.506966,-0.123682

Event phone:
020 7492 9930
Event website:
www.ambassadortickets.com

Categories:
Theatre. West End. Musicals

Spamalot 2013

Date Time Price information
Sat May 25

14:30

£20-£75. Runs 2hrs
Buy tickets

20:00
Mon May 27

20:00

£20-£75. Runs 2hrs
Buy tickets
Tue May 28

20:00

£20-£75. Runs 2hrs
Buy tickets
Wed May 29

14:30

£20-£75. Runs 2hrs
Buy tickets

20:00
Thu May 30

20:00

£20-£75. Runs 2hrs
Buy tickets
Fri May 31

20:00

£20-£75. Runs 2hrs
Buy tickets

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Comments & ratings

(2 ratings)

Absolutly extraordinary to see! The full spirit of Monty Python's in music, specially dedicated to West End London district aim. This show must be seen by all Monty Python's admirers and those who like entertaining, enthusiastic, humoristic and energic show. It's simple to say, you'll laugh from beginning till end!

Romain About 12 days ago
Rated as: 5/5
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Spamalot

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Spamalot 2013

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