Spamalot (South Staffs Musical Theatre Company)
Very popular production for amateur societies at the moment is the Monty Python inspired Spamalot a testament to the comic genius that is Eric Idle who is now appearing as God at venues all over the world, a feat I expect not many will achieve (don’t grovel, if it’s one thing I can’t stand it’s people grovelling).
All for one and one for all are a team of misfit Knights of the Round Table, Simon McGee as the proudly masculine (at least for most of the show) Sir Lancelot, Chris Dowen as the fiercely questioning Sir Gahald, Mike James as the fundamentally scared Sir Robin and Carl Cook, he of the ‘grand lapin en bois’ (that’s a large wooden rabbit to the uninitiated). Whether individually or as a team, they ooze comedy from every pore.
Jon Ranwell is King Arthur (I didn’t vote for you .....) with James Collins as the dependable Patsy whose facial expressions and looks of complete astonishment during ‘I’m All Alone’ were worth the ticket price alone.
Some cameo performances worthy of individual mention have to be Craig Griffiths as Dennis Galahad’s Mother, Matt Wirtz as the outrageous French Taunter and Adam Starr as the strangely feminine Prince Herbert all of whom provide performances to make the audience cry with laughter.
As I was leaving the auditorium for the interval I overhead two of the audience discussing the relative merits of Act 1, ‘you can tell it’s not quite professional’ they said, I beg to differ and having recently seen the current professional production I feel qualified to comment. This is more than equal in professionalism and entertainment value and I’m sure the vast majority of the packed Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton would agree with me.
Serious praise must go to Alf Rai (Director), Zoe Russell (Choreographer and I might add dancing herself) and Rob Murray (Musical Director) for bringing this zany entertainment experience to the stage.
It only runs for three more performances finishing Saturday 14th October 2017 and I suspect tickets will be scarce but, if you can get one grab it with both hands.
Book Here
South Staffs MTC have managed to pull together a comical yet immensely stage seasoned team for their production, highlighted by the simply exceptional voice of Natasha Bennett Ince who shares the role of Lady of the Lake and probably should be vying for the same in the current touring professional production.
Jon Ranwell is King Arthur (I didn’t vote for you .....) with James Collins as the dependable Patsy whose facial expressions and looks of complete astonishment during ‘I’m All Alone’ were worth the ticket price alone.
Some cameo performances worthy of individual mention have to be Craig Griffiths as Dennis Galahad’s Mother, Matt Wirtz as the outrageous French Taunter and Adam Starr as the strangely feminine Prince Herbert all of whom provide performances to make the audience cry with laughter.
As I was leaving the auditorium for the interval I overhead two of the audience discussing the relative merits of Act 1, ‘you can tell it’s not quite professional’ they said, I beg to differ and having recently seen the current professional production I feel qualified to comment. This is more than equal in professionalism and entertainment value and I’m sure the vast majority of the packed Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton would agree with me.
Serious praise must go to Alf Rai (Director), Zoe Russell (Choreographer and I might add dancing herself) and Rob Murray (Musical Director) for bringing this zany entertainment experience to the stage.
It only runs for three more performances finishing Saturday 14th October 2017 and I suspect tickets will be scarce but, if you can get one grab it with both hands.
Book Here
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