Spamalot: A look into the making of the Monty Python parody

“We eat ham, and jam and Spam a lot”: a subtle line from iconic British comedy film Monty Python and the Holy Grail is the inspiration for the seemingly random title of Spamalot, a Broadway musical “lovingly ripped off” from the film, which played late last month at Hanes Theatre.

The show contained a mixture of the old film supplemented with new songs and gags. Attendees experienced familiar jokes, such as European swallows and bloodthirsty bunnies, as well as new ones like the “Fisch Schlapping Song.”

The story follows King Arthur, played by senior May Burgard, and his coconut-banging sidekick Patsy, portrayed by senior Zack Weiss, as they recruit knights to join the Round Table. Upon the group’s arrival in Camelot, God charges the knights with a quest to find the Holy Grail. Burgard and Weiss will be joined by juniors Bram Raets, Austin Mejia and Weston Barker, sophomore Maddie Wasson and senior Anna Zurliene as leads.

Theater director Thomas Drago assured that, despite the musical additions, Spamalot’s humor stays true to the original Holy Grail—which many consider offensive.

“The musical has singing, dancing, physical comedy, witty lines and amazing spectacle,” Drago said. “It’s not for those who are politically correct or easily offended.”

The students agreed that the play leans towards being risqué.

“It’s vulgar and raw, but it also reaches a broad audience,” Zurliene said. “There were quite a few jokes that [people] knew they shouldn’t laugh at, but did.”

Whereas the theater department focused more on serious plays earlier in the year, Spamalot provided a contrast with its crude humor and constant jokes.

“The musical was a lot funnier and more vulgar than the other plays I have acted in,” Weiss said.

There was also a difference in the size of the production: according to Drago, Spamalot is the largest play the theater department has put on since 2014’s Legally Blonde.

“The biggest difference between this musical and the ones we’ve done in the past few years was the scope of the technical elements,” Drago said. “Our new tech director, [Andrew] Way, built an incredible show. It was spectacular.”

The students also felt a difference in the size of the play.

“It felt bigger than normal to me,” Weiss said. “We had lots of people, a cool set and lots of props.”

For playgoers worried that the original movie’s charm will be lost in translation to the stage, Weiss said not to worry.

“It brought the good bits from Monty Python and the Holy Grail and added some hilarious songs,” Weiss said. “I didn’t expect the audience to ever stop laughing.” The play showed on April 28, 29 and 30, with curtains opening at 7:30 p.m. Students were given discounted ticket pricing.