A knight to remember - the Spamalot Diaries Thanks Joe, and all our audiences
SO, THIS is it. The final instalment of the Spamalot Diaries. Yes, sadly, unlike a DFS sale, it really is ending!
However, the past seven days have been some of the busiest of the whole rehearsal period so there’s plenty to cram in to this final entry.
At the end of last week, the truckload of costumes arrived from Charades Costumiers and you realise: why a show like this costs many thousands of pounds to produce, and
how many quick changes we’ve all got to master.
This show has everything from sexy cheerleaders, to dancing nuns, from french guards to a Carmen Mirandalooking prince – no less so, the variety and colours are dazzling, particularly the Vegas showgirl head dresses.
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Many of the costumes are ingenious too, like the Black Knight’s costume – but I’m sworn to secrecy as to how it works!
Joe Pasquale (yes, the guy who sounds like he’s inhaled a tank full of helium) is a familiar face on screen but it’s probably less well known that he has performed in a number of musicals, including the West End production of Spamalot and the cast were delighted to receive a personal message from him last week, wishing us all the best for opening night.
Joe had heard from an exSandgrounder that Southport Spotlights were staging it and it was nice to get the boost as the nerves have started to set in!
To see the video, log on to the Southport Spotlights MTS Facebook page but be warned, it features very large comedy hands (this is Joe Pasquale after all!).
Little do people realise that us luvvies often risk life and limb to get these shows on stage, and being dramatic types, (even a broken nail sends us in to apoplexy!) we don’t take injuries well.
So far during preparations we’ve had sickness, a pulled hamstring, swollen ankles and cracked ribs to contend with, even a quick trip to A&E thrown in for good measure.
You’d think we were rehearsing Holby City rather than Spamalot.
Perhaps my favourite part of the process is the “sitzprobe”.
I’m not sure whether we can still call it that post-Brexit, we might need to revert to the English definition of “band call” but whatever we call it, its one of the best parts of the process. This is the first time the cast and band get together to play and sing through each musical number.
A rehearsal piano can only play a tiny fraction of the score, but once we have all the brass, woodwind and percussion, every little bit of underscoring can be heard in all its glory.
And this show has some beautiful music.
It’s a shame really that we have to sing over the top of it at times, I’d much rather just sit and listen to them playing!
It is almost unheard of to have a band of 12 in the orches- tra pit but that’s what we’ve got for Spamalot.
I’m not sure how our musical director got our treasurer to say yes to that, particularly when the professional version only had seven – but I’m glad he did! I’m sure you will be too.
And so, that’s it dear reader (I’m assuming there’s only been one of you, but hope I’m wrong!).
Over the past five weeks I hope I’ve given you an insight in to what it takes to put on a musical in Southport.
If you’ve already been to see the show, thank you for supporting live amateur theatre in the town.
At a cost of nearly £30,000 to stage Spamalot we strive to make the production as professional as possible, and we’re grateful you’ve given up a night of your precious free time.
For those of you who haven’t been yet, please reward us with your support. We’re here until Saturday night and it would be great to see you.
After all, a show without an audience is like a broken pencil – completely pointless! Thank you for reading. Peter Forshaw appears as Sir Lancelot (and a host of other characters) in Spamalot the Musical at Southport Little Theatre until Saturday, July 1 (matinee also that day).
See www.littletheatresouthport.co.uk and call 01704 530521 for tickets.