I’ve seen Spamalot twice and laughed a lot each time. Of course, I grew up watching Monty Python’s Flying Circus with Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam presenting their own unique brand of humor. Some of that quirky humor shows up in Spamalot because the musical is based on the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The musical offers a highly irreverent parody of Arthurian legend, with the title being a portmanteau of Spam and Camelot.
The original 2005 Broadway production directed by Mike Nichols received 14 Tony Award nominations, winning in three categories, including Best Musical. During its initial run of 1,575 performances, the production was seen by more than two million people and grossed over $168 million.
While Eric Idle was working with Mike Nichols on developing Spamalot, he kept a diary about the give-and-take of getting a musical to Broadway. If you’re interested in how a musical is put together with stars like Tim Curry (as King Arthur), Audra McDonald (as Lady of the Lake), Hank Azaria (as Lancelot), David Hyde Pierce (as Robin), and Roger Bart (as Galahad), The Spamalot Diaries takes you behind the scenes to see how a show comes together. I found The Spamalot Diaries fascinating and revealing! Are you an Eric Idle fan? GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Introduction — xi
To New York City for the first read — 1
Anxiety and final rewrites before rehearsal — 35
New York rehearsals begin — 49
November in New York — 75
December in Chicago — 87
The New York opening — 145
Afterword — 185
Acknowledgments — 187
I’m a fan of everyone who contributed to it, including the Audience!
Dan, Diane and her sister first saw SPAMALOT in Vegas. Loved it! Then, months later, the touring version of SPAMALOT showed up in Buffalo and I got to enjoy it. I liked it so much, I saw it twice!
I love reading about how a play came together.
Patti, like you, I enjoy learning about the Inner Workings of hit plays and musicals. And I loved Eric Idle’s funny commentary!
I’m a huge Monty Python fan—going back to the first days in the 1970s when it showed up on PBS. Somehow, I never saw “Spamalot”. Perhaps if it gets a revival, I’ll try to see it.
Deb, I’m sure SPAMALOT will be revived. Katie wants to see the revival of GYPSY. The Meyersons already have their tickets!
Did you ever go back to the pre-PYTHON series, much of which are online on YT, etc.? Worth the effort, as well.
Todd, I’ll have to check out the pre-PYTHON series on YouTube! Thanks for the recommendation!
Yes, a big Eric Idle fan (also Michael Palin & John Cleese). Jackie was never a big Python fan, but I convinced her to see SPAMALOT in 2008 and she was surprised how much she liked it. Of course, I was a big fan of HOLY GRAIL too. Idle wrote “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” and the “Nudge Nudge” sketch, among others. He hosted SNL 4 times.
Jeff, Eric Idle was key cog in the MONTY PYTHON machine. He went on to do excellent solo work, too!
The first PBS runs in WGBY Springfield , MA and/or the Hartford-based CT PBS on Saturday nights at 11p were part of my marathon viewing on Saturday nights in 1975 , along with the CBS line-up of MARY TYLER MOORE, BOB NEWHART and CAROL BURNETT, and after PYTHON, either SATURDAY NIGHT or (one week of every month), WEEKEND with Linda Ellerbee and Lloyd Dobins on NBC. 10yo me approved.
Definitely enjoyed Idle’s THE RUTLES and RUTLAND WEEKEND TELEVISION work, as well…
Todd, I’ve enjoyed Eric Idle’s other 56 books, too!
Todd, I had a massive crush on Linda Ellerbee Back in the Day.
Though. as it turns out, she joined WEEKEND only for its one-season primetime run. But she and Dobyns later worked together on NBC NEWS OVERNIGHT for its run.
Todd, I also had a crush on Jessica Savitch who came to a tragic end.
I always liked Ellerbee and Savitch as well. Pity neither Savitch, her man-friend (who was driving), nor her dog had Ted Kennedy rather than Mary Jo Kopechne luck on that bad night.
DO NOT ADJUST YOUR SET: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7ukw63OYcTjLDKVdNtRISu8r0hrHiott
THE FROST REPORT: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2lfk6o
AT LAST THE 1948 SHOW: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF90CDF8E1518324C