Producer Sues Monty Python Troupe Members Over SPAMALOT

According to Deadline.com, Monty Python and the Holy Grail producer Mark Forstater is suing the Monty Python comedy troupe for profits he says he is owed from the Broadway musical Spamalot.

Read the original report here.

Actors Michael Palin, Eric Idle and Terry Jones appeared in court today for the opening arguments and will likely testify next week. At the court in London, Forstater stated that his 1974 agreement with the group allows him one-seventh of the profits from The Holy Grail, as well as any spin-offs.

Tom Weisselberg, who represents Forstater, revealed that the producer had been receiving his share through 2005. But that year, the troupe lowered the cut to one-fourteenth, which Forstater says brings the amount owed to around $400,000.

Spamalot, by Eric Idle and John Du Prez, and directed by Christopher Luscombe, just moved its run to the West End's Playhouse Theatre this month.

Spamalot tells the legendary tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and features a bevy (or possibly a brace) of beautiful show girls, witch burnings (cancelled due to health and safety) not to mention cows, killer rabbits and French people. The show features fantastic tunes more magical than a Camelot convention, including He Is Not Dead Yet, Knights of the Round Table, Find Your Grail and of course the Nation’s Favourite Comedy Song (Reader’s Digest Poll 2010 - before it went bust) Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life.