"And remember knights- what happens in Camelot... stays in Camelot."

[thehefner]

SPAMALOT has its flaws, make no mistake. Flaws that could only be fixed by some massive rescripting. I know Mel was disappointed with the show. But me? Here's the thing. I wasn't expecting a new PRODUCERS. I wasn't expecting it to be close to as brilliant as the original HOLY GRAIL movie. In fact, when I ponied up the cash and drove all the way from DC to see the show, there was only one thing I was expecting. One hope.

And that was to see Tim Curry, David Hyde Pierce, and Hank Azaria do Monty Python routines.

As such, I was completely satisfied, and anything else that was good, well it was just gravy.

Now to be honest, Tim looked fat, bored, and immobile. He just wasn't even trying. Hank and David, on the other hand, looked like they were living out childhood fantasies. Part of the fun was just watching the pure joy on Hank's face throughout the show. I've never, ever seen an actor so happy to be doing something on stage.

It was great to meet him afterwards, especially since (as I reminded him), he didn't come out after I saw him in SEXUAL PERVERSITY IN CHICAGO in London. In fact, of the four characters, Matthew Perry was the only one who came out to sign autographs. Hank's reply: "I didn't come out? Really? Huh. I must have been in a bad mood." He started to do the Prof. Frink voice for a group of teens and then asked them, "Do any of you know who that's supposed to be?" When they replied no, he was appalled. Of course I, being John Hefner, said, "Jerry Lewis!" and Hank replied "Thank you!" So yay.

From the little bit I spoke with David Hyde Pierce it seemed to me that he actually isn't Niles in real life at all! He actually seems to have a normal voice! Very interesting. If that's the case, it's kind of sad that he is typecast playing these mock-English-stuffy types like Niles and Abe, even if he's so damn good at it. He seemed like a real sweetheart too. And he got the best musical number in the entire show, too. "But my liege! We can't go to Broadway! We don't have any Jews!" and so on. Total showstopper, that earned him TWO rounds of applause from the audience. I've only ever seen that happen once before, with THE PRODUCERS for Brad Oscar's "Haben Sie gehört das deutsche Band?"

So yeah, if your expectations aren't any higher than that, you should find the show well worth your time. I should like to see it again after previews sometime to see how they might tweak it. Besides, with the news of Liev Schrieber in GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS, Kathleen Turner in WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? and John C. Reilly (!!!) in STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, I may have to go back to NYC pretty soon. But by bus this time.

Comments

[themadhatter26.livejournal.com]

Bus ain't so bad, that is unless they cancel your bus the morning of and fail to tell you then make you wait nearly 2 hours to catch a bus that goes to Baltimore where you can then wait for the bus to New York.


But I'm not bitter

[2sick2pray.livejournal.com]

d00d... I just saw the first preview/ opening night of Virginia Woolf. OMG. Theatregasm...


Sooooo fucking fuhmazing. And the weird thing: Kathleen Turner was great, but she was by far the least fabulous member of the cast.

And the girl who played Honey turns out also played perdita in the Winter's Tale at Shakespeare Theatre awhile back, which was another great theatregoing experience of my life... so yay. my heart just totally skipped a beat when I read that credit in her bio. there's nothing cooler (to me) than seeing someone on broadway that you recognize from a regional production in your hometown area. It's happened a couple times this year and its always such a great feeling.

So, stayed outside the theatre door and managed to get autographs from the entire cast plus Mr. Albee himself. Needless to say, my spring break's off to an awesome start.


P.S. - It's not as if I hated spamalot, I guess I was just expecting more in the way of overall cleverness. I had hoped it would be another Producers... and I didn't wanna mention DHP's "jews" number cause i didn't wanna spoil it for anyone, but yes that was freaking fabulous!!!

[fishymcb.livejournal.com]

Hey Mel, this is Kevin. I realized that I didn't properly thank you for hooking Hef and company up with tickets to Spamalot. So...thanks. I can't offer my first-born or anything in return, but it'll all even out somewhere.

[dame-ratcliffe.livejournal.com]

Hey Heffie...where do you go to see the cast afterwards (I never know where the stage doors are...so directions, like turn righon April 16 (yay, house seats!!!!) and I am dying, dying to see Tim and Hank (David would be nice, but he didn't catch my love in my youth so it's a little different). I met Hank very briefly once before working on a movie of his...such an awesome guy.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

You'll be able to find the stage door by the huge group gathered. It's by the wall with all the posters of shows.