One of these knights a Python will strike
HOBART College students are searching for the holy grail of school musicals, bringing Monty Python’s Spamalot to the stage next week.
Based (pretty loosely) on the classic 1975 comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Spamalot is set in plagueravaged medieval England where King Arthur, guided by the Lady of the Lake and helped by his servant Patsy, recruits a group of unlikely characters to become Knights of the Round Table.
When they gather in Camelot, God appears to the knights and sends them on a mission to find the Holy Grail.
During their quest the intrepid adventurers are taunted by lewd French soldiers, forced by the Knights of Ni to stage a Broadway musical, and challenged to a duel by the Black Knight — who turns out to be pretty ’armless.
In true Monty Python style, Spamalot is filled with communication breakdowns, split personalities, memorable songs such as Always Look on the Bright Side of Life and The Fisch Schlapping Song, and shrubbery.
This year’s show features the largest group of students ever to have participated in a Hobart College musical, with the 48-member cast joined by 12 Theatre Production students working behind the scenes, and 20 musicians performing under the direction of musical director Lachlan Court.
Three French-speaking Swiss students have also helped the cast work on their French accents.
Hobart College presents Monty Python’s Spamalot at the school’s Mt Nelson Theatre from May 31 until June 9, with shows at 7.30pm Thursday-Saturday plus a 2pm matinee on June 9. Tickets are $25, $20 concession, go to www.spamalothobart.com.au for bookings.