Posted on 12/01/2004 3:14:07 PM PST by Land_of_Lincoln_John
Monty Python and "Spamalot" are heading for Chicago. In just three weeks the new musical opens at the Shubert Theatre for a one month stand but Wednesday morning the cast of the Goofball Musical Comedy met the media. ABC 7's Frank Mathie was there to see if total silliness on the screen can transfer to total meaningless fluff on the stage.
It's a good cast, David Hyde Pierce of "Frasier" fame, Hank Azaria, the voice of many different Simpson's characters, and the star of many films Tim Curry, he's King Arthur.
"I was particularly looking for a musical because I thought I probably had one left you know, before I was too old," said Tim Curry, King Arthur in "Spamalot"
Spamalot, they say, is the musical lovingly ripped off from the motion picture "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," a movie that never stopped laughing at itself.
"This is literally a dream come true. We're all having the best time getting to say these words, getting to sing these amazing songs and just making idiots of ourselves," said David Hyde Pierce, plays four parts in "Spamalot."
All of the actors, except Tim Curry as King Arthur, play at least three different roles. For Hank Azaria, the Simpson's many voices, "Spamalot" is a lot of fun.
"It's nice to actually show up with your whole body there. It's not just our voice. It's nice to be seen occasionally," said Hank Azaria, plays six parts in "Spamalot."
The show is typical Monty Python silliness.
Spamalot! Now I suppose there are some people wondering, is this about all that spam e-mail we get? Or is this about that mystery meat in a can that's been helping to feed America since World War II?
"This is the great classic original spam that comes in a can. It dates back to the middle ages where the play is set. Spam goes back to the middle ages? Yes, a lot of the stuff that actually on the shelves now goes back to the middle ages. That's why it's so good. It last forever," said David Hyde Pierce.
Is this a play about the Clintonista administration?
I want to see this! I wonder if it will be recorded to DVD!
Songfacts: Spam is a brand name of luncheon meat. It's name is a contraction of the words "spiced ham." Years later, the term "Spam" was used to describe junk e-mail.
This song first appeared on the the 25th episode of the TV show Monty Python's Flying Circus, which was titled, appropriately enough, "Spam."
Assisting the group on background vocals were The Fred Tomlinson Singers. This group worked with Monty Python on several other songs as well.
The group was known more for their comedy than for their music. All oftheir movies, however, featured music written by members of the band.
Members of the group were: Eric Idle, John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam.
There are only three different words in this song. In alphabetical order these are: Lovely, Spam, and Wonderful.
I had the privilege of interviewing Graham Chapman in 1982 at a college radio station (I was 20 at the time). I first saw Python in 1972 when clips of it ("Bicycle Repairman"; "The Boring Life of a Stockbroker") were shown
on "Dean Martin's Comedyworld", a summer replacement series on NBC. 2 years later, I saw it on public TV--stations in Providence and Boston. The Pythons (and
RIP, Graham) are geniuses.
"but I don't like spam"...
Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
shh, dear, don't cause a fuss, I'll have your spam. I love it!
Bloody Vikings....
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