BWW Reviews: SPAMALOT Now In Twin Falls

On Sunday last, my husband drove me out to Twin Falls because I was invited to review Random Acts of Theatre's (RAT) SPAMALOT production. And being a sucker for theatre, I will review where I am invited (within a reasonable distance for a day trip).

RAT's production was being performed at the College of Southern Idaho campus on Falls Avenue in Twin Falls. It is in the CSI Fine Arts Center which is a lovely venue. Anything and everything you need to put on a production.

I have seen SPAMALOT on the stage by the National Broadway Tour in 2012 (I believe), but I was doing security and only saw it from the wings. I did have a lot of fun and good memories of the set pieces and costumes. RAT was going to have some work to do to impress me.

They used projection screens like the original production and I am sure by the way they looked that they were provided for the production. it is a good thing since Monty Python has such an iconic look. The sets were simple, they had the two "towers" from castles in front of the proscenium and a castle that came on and moved off. They handled the "wooden" rabbit in a very cute way, but I won't spoil it for you. This is not a show about sets, so it becomes a good show for community theatres.

SPAMALOT is a musical and therefore needs actors who can sing. RAT has done a great job of finding those actors who can sing and act. Garth "Dusty" Blackburn as King Arthur was full voiced and a match for the character originally played by Tim Curry. Amber Wagner was a strong Lady of the Lake. It would have been nice if some of the actors had been miked because occasionally their voices were lost, but we could tell they were all talented.

The acting was perfect for the Monty Python lovers out there. Monty Python has been around since the 1970's a majority of the adults in the audience grew up with them. I noticed quite a few other references in the show for the audience members of our age as well. For instance there is a subtle reference to JAmes Brown, well not subtle for those of us who recognized it for what it was. And there were many other gags, I do not know if they were written into the script or if RAT themselves came up with some of them, but they were great when they happened.

I spent the money to travel to and back from Twin Falls, including a meal, and I would do it again. SPAMALOT produced by Random Acts of Theatre was a wonderfully reverent show. RAT loves Monty Python and it shows in the quality and effort they put into this production.

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