# So, I finally got to see Spamalot. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 22, 2007, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-finally-got-to-see-spamalot/416452 "2007-08-22T02:37:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-finally-got-to-see-spamalot/416452/41 "2009-06-04T17:49:31Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Guess I’m the party pooper, then. I’m a big Monty Python fan and thought the movie was wonderful - I’ve seen it many, many times - but the stage musical just underwhelmed me. So many friends had gushed about it that my expectations may have been too high. Seemed strained and “trying too hard,” I guess. Meh. Finally came to SF and saw it opening weekend, and I have to say these sentiments echo mine. There are few things quite so insufferable as MP fans who simply parrot the old skits ad nauseum, and this felt like an extended rendition of that. A few of the new songs were cute, but I’m so tired of meta-theater, all coy with the self-referential material instead of having a story and characterization. Brecht or Beckett is fine, but simply recycling old material just feels more and more like laziness (especially when it feels like a rehash as opposed to a re-evaluation). Yes, I know it won a bunch of Tonys, but I was seriously unimpressed. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-finally-got-to-see-spamalot/416452/42 "2009-06-04T18:27:11Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > OK, you lot in the US _think_ you get it (Monty Python), but you don’t, really. > > The entire point of Camelot is that there’s this big build-up (“We are the Knights of Camelot, we love to drink and dance a lot…”) only to decide in the end _“On second thoughts, let us not go to Camelot. It is a silly place.”_ You’re not supposed to go to Camelot! 😕 Book, lyrics, and music by Eric Idol, former Python and current Brit. > [@](#): > > The whole thing felt vaguely Americanised in a way I couldn’t quite put my finger on- Well, any smart producer is going to consider his audience. Spamalot even more than most touring shows adapts itself to its current venue. > [@](#): > > In short, it’s well worth seeing, but don’t expect _Monty Python & The Holy Grail II: Holier Grail_ or anything like that… I like the fact that it’s not trying to duplicate the movie. If I wanted that I’d go see “Dirty Dancing.” ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-finally-got-to-see-spamalot/416452/43 "2009-06-04T18:30:31Z")
> [@MadTheSwine](#): > > I went to see it a few weeks ago in Lansing, Michigan(home of the Michigan State Spartans). > During the _Knights Who Say Ni_ part, Arthur started singing the University of Michigan fight song,which got loud boos and groans from the audience. > He stopped ,looked a little confused, and then yelled “Go Green!” , the audience yelled back “Go White!”(Green and White are the Michigan State colors). > Arthur also mentioned Michigan State basketball coach Tom \*\*Rizzo \*\*later on. > Did they add a local spin when you saw it? Izzo. ---
**Author:** ![sideshowkar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5e9695/32.png) [@sideshowkar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sideshowkar)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-finally-got-to-see-spamalot/416452/44 "2009-06-04T19:20:19Z")
For anyone in LA, it’s playing at the Ahmanson from July 7 - September 6. If you don’t want to pay full price, they have $20 “Hot Tix,” which are limited view seats (you’re on the end of the aisle). They go on sale a few weeks before the first show. I saw the pre-Broadway run of _9 to 5_ this way and was in the 7th or 8th row. Very cool. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-finally-got-to-see-spamalot/416452/45 "2009-06-04T19:22:55Z")
Idle.:smack: No relation to Billy Idol. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2009, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-finally-got-to-see-spamalot/416452/46 "2009-06-05T06:05:57Z")
> [@TWDuke](#): > > 😕 Book, lyrics, and music by Eric Idol, former Python and current Brit. Despite the fact I made that post over a year ago (check your dates when replying to old threads, kids!), the point I was making then was that the _audience_ thought they “Got” Monty Python when it was fairly obvious they didn’t- or at least not in the way Python humour is intended to be “gotten”, if that makes sense. Then, it was onto my next point about Why You Don’t Go To Camelot (Because it is a Silly Place, of course). But like I said, this was a year ago, so it’s probably moot by now. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2009, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-finally-got-to-see-spamalot/416452/47 "2009-06-05T06:25:41Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > Despite the fact I made that post over a year ago (check your dates when replying to old threads, kids!), Gee, pops, I don’t see an expiration date. The thread’s still here, you’re still here, Spamalot’s still here. > [@](#): > > the point I was making then was that the _audience_ thought they “Got” Monty Python when it was fairly obvious they didn’t- or at least not in the way Python humour is intended to be “gotten”, if that makes sense. Not to me. But I’m an American, so maybe I just don’t get it. Thirty-some years of thinking I “got” Monty Python, and now I learn I was probably deluding myself and laughing for the wrong reasons. Damn. Of course, Spamalot was written for Americans, so at least I have that. I guess you wouldn’t get it though. ETA: I just realized I can also get Terry Gilliam’s animations. Whew. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2009, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-finally-got-to-see-spamalot/416452/48 "2009-06-05T07:11:23Z")
> [@TWDuke](#): > > Gee, pops, I don’t see an expiration date. The thread’s still here, you’re still here, Spamalot’s still here. Not to me. But I’m an American, so maybe I just don’t get it. Thirty-some years of thinking I “got” Monty Python, and now I learn I was probably deluding myself and laughing for the wrong reasons. Damn. I was referring to the audience in Las Vegas with whom I saw the show- nearly all of whom were Americans. And at any rate, I’m no longer interested in trying to clarify or expand upon a passing observation I made a year ago, as it’s academic at this point anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2009, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-finally-got-to-see-spamalot/416452/49 "2009-06-05T10:32:34Z")
> [@TWDuke](#): > > Gee, pops, I don’t see an expiration date. Let’s not make this persona, **TWDuke** and **Martini Enfield**. Just for the record: there’s no expiration date for threads in Cafe Society, unlike some of the other forums on this site. So, no zombie threads in the forum where we talk about zombie movies. Weird, huh? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-finally-got-to-see-spamalot/416452.md?page=2)