Oh the endless irony of the Python Brand …. And now for something completely familiar and yet, somehow more than that. The Tony award winning Spamalot currently at the Theater Royal after it’s long West End run is a real old fashioned knees up & mash up of all the best, favorite and well known bits of Monty Python’s films and sketches, all that’s missing is a dead parrot, although there are some songs that nod in that direction.

With a wonderfully strong and diverse cast who are all obviously enjoying themselves, this is a silly (in the best way) panto/musical for the connoisseur and it seems like half the packed house this evening were Python fans. With sketches, songs and characters that will be familiar to lovers of Python and with some good new jokes mixed in this is a great night out. Not taxing in the slightest, but warm, generous and funny Theatre.

Taking the rise out of the styles, songs and producers of the West End this meta-musical is great fun, the songs are funny and self refer to such a degree they are at risk of imploding, but the clever lyrics and equality funny musical arrangements and tongue in cheek singing keep this froth bubbling along at just the right tempo.

The brilliant show stopping number ‘The song that goes like this’ is testament to how clever this seemingly daft musical really is. It’s bliss and nonsense at the same time.  It’s cheeky too and flips in and out of King Arthur, his round table and the search for the Holy Grail plot with hardly a coconut shell clip clop to stop it.


With Marcus Brigstocke (not performing on June 26) heading up the cast as Arthur and Todd Carty as his trusty sidekick Patsy there were laughs from the off.
 
Brigstocks voice was surprising good in a Rex Harrison kind of way but the real singing star of the show is the lovely Jodie Prenger who brings  passion to the ‘Lady of the Lake’ and also has that wonderful ability to poke fun at herself whilst giving a performance with real wow factor. I loved every moment she was on stage, and so did she.

The biggest laughs of the evening came from ‘The French Taunter’ played with panache and verve by Graham MacDuff. Well done that man.

I was expecting some reheated chopped ham this evening, but instead got the most delightful saucy spam fritters, with some wonderful tart Frenchie abuse on the side. The whole audience were on their feet at the end, singing along to the most famous of Python songs ‘ Always look on the bright side of life’ and I always think the mark of a really good musical, is not the plot but whether the audience leave whistling the tunes. This ones got it’s own whistle-along built in and the road outside was full of it as we happily streamed out into the warm June night.

The two hours flew by and this is a really rather good night out for ages 8+ as there are some naughty words and rude Frenshie gestures!

Until 26th June, Theater Royal, Brighton Book here:
Box Office - 08448 717 650