Look on the bright side of life with a trip to the theatre, says Lisa Clatworthy
Whether you can quote The Life of Brian or the Holy Grail line by line or you’ve never seen a single scene of Monty Python, Spamalot will have you laughing out loud.
We could end this review here, because that’s basically all you should need to read before booking your tickets for a night at the ADC Theatre. However, you’d feel short-changed and this page would look really empty, so here are some reasons why you should see Spamalot.
- It’s hilarious.
- Every style of musical theatre is there, and taken off perfectly.
- Sir Galahad’s hair.
- Impossible, irresistible rhyming.
- You get to sing along to Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.
- Ticket prices start at just £11.
- It’s hilarious – did I write that already?
So you get the idea that I think it’s very, very funny indeed, now all I need to do is add… We went to see it on Wednesday, its first night. There were a few minor tech problems, for example the orchestra drowning out the singing, but they were soon sorted.
The Cambridge Theatre Company cast acted their socks off in front of a packed house and particular highlights were Laura Bryant as Lady of the Lake and Oliver Hockin as Patsy. Laura plays an excellent diva, while Oliver is a brilliant foil for Matt Wilkinson’s King Arthur, particularly when Matt sings I’m All Alone.
All the visual quirks and verbal playfulness associated with Monty Python are there, and you can’t help but laugh. And if Wednesday’s audience is anything to go by, it’s going to be a noisy week or so at the ADC – every audience is sure to roar with laughter.
Spamalot is at the ADC Theatre until 9 July.
