BWW Reviews: What Happens in Camelot, Stays in Camelot; Rivertown Theaters Presents SPAMALOT

I remember going to plays at the children's theater in Rivertown when I was a very little girl. I even had a birthday party there once. I was so excited when I finally got to go to the "big people" theatre with my grandmother. She took me to see YANKEE DOODLE DANDY, and that is something I have never forgotten. I returned to Rivertown Theaters recently to see their production of Monty Python's SPAMALOT.

To say that I was enchanted by the little theater is an understatement. Its peachy-pink walls, red velvet curtains, small chandeliers, and old school seats made me feel like I should have been dressed in a silk ball gown with a feather in my hair and a fan in my hand. There's something to say about the modern theater, but it was nice to be in a classic setting.

SPAMALOT (based off of the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail), on the other hand, is anything but old school. Directed by Gary Rucker and choreographed by Kelly Fouchi and Heidi Malner, Rivertown Theaters presented a spit-your-drink-out funny rendition of this musical. From the actors' silly antics (I'm looking at you Sir Robin) and comedic timing to the hilarious songs and quick one-liners, I laughed from the time the show started to the final bows.

As a long-time fan of the movie, I can assure all you skeptics out there that SPAMALOT includes all of your 'Holy Grail' favorites: the narrator, King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, Patsy, Prince Herbert, the Knights who say Ni, the killer bunny, and Tim the Enchanter all make appearances among several others.

There was one character in particular who I did not expect to be as funny as she was, the Lady of the Lake. This character is the female lead in the show and is the one who gave King Arthur his title. There are a few ballads that the Lady of the Lake sings - 'The Song That Goes Like This' and 'The Diva's Lament (Whatever Happened to My Part?)' - which are sung so seriously, but the lyrics are not serious at all. 'The Song That Goes Like This' is about that one ballad in every musical with amazing key changes and long choruses, ironically being in and of itself a ballad in a musical with amazing key changes and long choruses. 'The Diva's Lament' happens in Act II. The Lady of the Lake sings a grand tune about how she hasn't been on stage at all since Act I and her career has done down the drain. Don't worry. She re-claims her "diva-dom" when she marries King Arthur at the end. After all, every play has to have a wedding.

Bravo to the cast and creative team of Rivertown Theaters' SPAMALOT! This show continues its run this weekend with performances on June 26-23 and wraps up with performances on June 28-30. Get yourself down to the charming Rivertown Theater for SPAMALOT.

Click here for tickets and more information.

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