By Rick Palsgrove
Groveport Editor
Now for something completely different from the Cruiser Theatre Co.
Groveport Madison High School’s Cruiser Theatre Co. will present, “Monty Python’s Spamalot (school edition),” on March 23 and 24 at 7 p.m. and March 25 and 26 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $10 general admission and $8 for students and seniors. For ticket information visit www.onthestage.tickets/ or go to the Cruiser Theatre Co. Facebook page. Also there is cheaper pricing on tickets if you buy them before the show online rather than at the door.
“Monty Python’s Spamalot” is a musical comedy adapted from the 1975 film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” and parodies the legend of King Arthur. “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” was a popular British sketch comedy television show that ran from 1969 to 1974.
“‘Spamalot’ is a joke that takes itself seriously and the students are very quick to pick up that humor,” said Cruiser Theatre Director Kirkland Long. “They already perform it socially so it stands to reason they’d be able to transition it to the stage. Most often we stage comedies and relying on the students’ strengths has made my first musical directing experience a much smoother one than it could’ve been.”
Considering “Monty Python” was big 50 years ago, when asked if today’s student actors familiar with “Monty Python” and what do they think of the “Pythons’” style of humor, Long said, “Most of them sought out ‘Monty Python’ content outside of rehearsal upon hearing what show we were doing. ‘Spamalot’ makes many references to other ‘Monty Python’ titles, so it’s a good thing they understand the original bit they are referring to. They enjoy how seriously it takes the absurdity and I think that dry style of humor works on any generation from any location. It takes the dull from reality and inserts it into fantasy, and that is a juxtaposition anyone can find comedy in.”
The show does present some challenges for the student actors and stage crew.
“There are many different moving parts and I think this show requires a strong grip on the technical aspects of theatre production,” said Long. “The students have much more to memorize, operate, and understand. More lights, more set pieces, and so much dancing. It takes attention and focus that can be difficult to maintain through the entire process.”
Visit the Cruiser Theatre Co. Facebook page for or more about the show and the theatrical troupe.
