Spamalot

If you are looking for an antidote to a cold, dark winter night, then Spamalot may just be the place to visit. Eric Idle and John Du Prez‘s very silly but highly enjoyable musical has been redesigned and redirected for the UK tour. It is, frankly, a cheaper version than graced the Palace Theatre. It could perhaps do with a few more chorus members to flesh out some of the production numbers.

That said, it is remains a jolly jape, well-performed by a talented and hard-working cast. Marcus Brigstocke effortlessly gets all the laughs he can as King Arthur and Hayley Tamaddon is a big-voiced Lady of The Lake. (Tamaddon is playing only the first night in Edinburgh with Amy Nuttall appearing for the rest of the week). The songs are fun and tuneful and the set and costumes, by Hugh Durrant, colourfully pantoesque. As the hapless Knights (and many other characters), Graham MacDuff, Simon Lipkin, Robin Armstrong and Samuel Holmes, are effective and entertaining. Like the rather wrinkly tights most of the cast wear, Todd Carty as the faithful and ever so slightly gormless retainer, Patsy and David Langham as Prince Herbert, offer good support.

You don’t need to be a Python fan to enjoy this very funny show. They may laugh a little louder at some of the jokes but this bright. breezy musical will entertain all but those with the stoniest of hearts. And remember what happens in Spamalot, stays in Spamalot.