It ain't always easy to Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, but Spamalot at Marshall Civic Players can sure help as their Knights of the Round Table embark on their quirky quest for the Holy Grail. Adapted from the classic Monty Python movie, they've got taunting French castle guards, somewhat deadly plagues, cow bombs, a really mean bunny, and much more all conspiring to keep the Holy Grail unattainable.
What is easily attainable is laughter, and plenty of it. David Trippett is our King Arthur reigning over the stage with a nice mix of deadpan comedy and royal bearing. Karen Kidder-Barrett shines as the larger-than-life Lady of the Lake, the almost-leading lady yearning for more stage and less green room, but making the most of her moments with humor and big vocals including her nice duet with new recruit Sir Galahad/Justin Moore in The Song That Goes Like This. They are surrounded by many great players. The charismatic Talon Baldwin whose straight-laced Lancelot finally gets to cut loose and dance-a-lot. Brian Ketner as the beleaguered Sir Robin who is horrified and mortified to find knighting is way less fun than imagined, especially as Max Brundage (Sir Bedevere) relishes in serenading him with a ballad to Brave Sir Robin and Robin's hasty retreat from confrontation. And lest we forget, as King Arthur always does, Chance Hamilton as the king's trusty sidekick and amusingly sympathetic squire Patsy ensuring Arthur will never truly be all alone in his quest.
This ensemble show includes great bits for all cast members who gleefully throw themselves into the zaniness. That includes David Benner and his fellow French taunters tossing out their insults and more with surgical precision, the sprightly "not dead yet" Chris Fulbright who can't die quick enough for his loved ones, Hannah "Sig" Sievers as a perpetually confident, optimistic, fearless, arm-less, leg-less Black Knight, the gruff Todd Hazel and hopelessly romantic Shane Klepper as father and son royals struggling with widely divergent goals and comically incompetent guards, Bob Veramay as Galahad's bluntly philosophical mother questioning Arthur's mandate, Jaxon Whitmore as eccentric but helpful Tim the Enchanter, and Colleen Hagerty clearly enjoying her role as leader of the Knights of Ni as they happily annoy other knights to the brink of madness. Tim Davis provides the resonant voice of God to his awed knights before he's gone in a...flash. While Justin Barner is the earthly voice of authority as the narrating Historian guiding us through events that are loosely inspired by loosely actual events.
The cast and choreographer Zoe Cutie provide highlights with the Lady of the Lake's dynamic Laker Girls and court of Camelot's Knights of the Round Table against the backdrop of Kathy Seifert's castle entrance set. Director Sarah Noah and her group keep things crazy and fun throughout their determined quest to inspire us to find our grail and the bright side of our life.
Rob Hopper
Marshall Arts
