‘Spamalot’ offers a fresh take on Monty Python buffoonery

When Short North Stage polled patrons about which shows they wanted to see, the favorite was clear: “Spamalot.”

The troupe’s production of the Monty Python hit will open Friday in the Garden Theater.

“What’s really fun about the musical is its buffoonery,” director Edward Carignan said.

Medieval knights go on a wacky quest in the 2005 Tony winner for best musical, adapted by author-lyricist Eric Idle from the 1975 film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.”

“In the musical, you have to go to Broadway to find the grail,” Carignan said.

Buddy comedy is a major focus of the two-act show, with several leading actors (other than Tim Browning’s King Arthur) tackling multiple roles.

“The common thread is they’re playing off each other, like a comedy team working together,” Carignan said.

“It’s fun to watch King Arthur, the straight man through the show, reacting to all these other zany characters.”

Carignan wanted to try something fresh for Short North Stage after seeing the Broadway show and national tour and choreographing a 2014 production in Virginia.

“There are great jokes in ‘Spamalot’ and it’s still an homage to Monty Python,” he said, “but a big part of our pre-production was finding new bits and jokes in the material.”

For instance, Carignan found ways to embellish “Knights of the Round Table,” a first-act number set in a Las Vegas-style Camelot.

“For a dramatic appearance by the Lady of the Lake, we came up with the idea of creating a David Copperfield-style illusion, a magic trick staged like a Las Vegas number.”

Danielle Grays relishes the role of the Lady of the Lake.

“She’s very much a diva, over the top but in a really fun and exciting way,” Grays said.

“Diva has a negative connotation sometimes, but many people tell me it’s a perfect role because I can pull a lot from my outgoing stage personality.”

Her songs include “Diva’s Lament” and “Whatever Happened to My Part.”

“The Lady of the Lake is about helping the main characters, but she wants her stage time,” Grays said.

“She’s upset because halfway through act two, she hasn’t gotten any stage time for at least 40 minutes.”

Grays, 24, appears opposite Nathan Pecchia’s Sir Galahad in “The Song That Goes Like This,” a parody of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s romantic duets.

“It mocks the songs that have highs, lows, key changes and the kiss at the end,” Grays said.

“The Lady is comic relief throughout the spoofy show. ... It’s hard to miss the joke.”

Kyle Snyder, 31, makes his Short North Stage debut as Sir Lancelot.

“How to play him is a double-edged sword,” Snyder said.

“He’s a rough, tough guy, described as almost homicidally brave ... but he has another side that he doesn’t understand.”

Snyder also plays one of the Knights Who Say “Ni!” who refuse to allow passage through their forest without the gift of shrubbery; Tim the Enchanter, who warns the knights about a killer rabbit; and the French Taunter, who insults King Arthur.

“I get to stretch my comedic legs because these other characters are so outrageous,” Snyder said.