There are different styles of comedy: deadpan, cringe, slapstick, improv, etc. Monty Python falls into the category of “Surreal Comedy,” - where characters and scenes take place in absurd situations with nonsense logic. Many people find it dry and random, yet nothing could be further from the truth. Surreal sketches usually magnify the craziness of our culture, force us to examine who we are as a society, and laugh at ourselves.
Last year I went to the NYSSMA conference in Rochester. I attended a session by a former music-teacher-turned-music-theatre-licenser and was overwhelmed with inspiration to find the right shows for our students. The presenter recommended that if the other attendees and I were interested in Monty Python, we should give Spamalot serious consideration. He even offered to contact the authors of the show in the event that any of us had any questions or suggestions. Reflexively, my hand shot in the air and I asked the presenter, “I’m sorry. Did you just say you can call Monty Python? As in, you have Eric Idle on speed dial?!” He replied casually, “Yes.” I wanted to burst. Monty Python is to comedy as The Beatles are to music. This man was a pocket-dial away from a living legend.
In Junior High I remember getting together with my friends during musical season, firing up a VHS player, and watching Monty Python’s Holy Grail. I’m not sure why I thought it was funny, but it probably had something to do with my friends quoting the film as we watched it. As I went through school, I remember downloading the audio to the scenes and listening to the sketches along with my music playlists. I could recite the greatest moments of the film by heart-- trying to perfect the inflection, tone, and timbre just as I would for my favorite songs.
I had to make sure that if Pembroke performed Monty Python, it would be authentic yet tasteful. When I revealed this show to the students, I could hear crickets in the auditorium. They had no idea what Monty Python and the Holy Grail was about, let alone Spamalot. But they trusted me. I asked if they’d ever watched a PG-13 or R movie before. They laughed… of course they had. I asked if they had ever sat with their parents while they watched adult content. They still laughed, but nervously. I asked if they had ever stood on stage and presented that material to their parents and grandparents. They stopped laughing. We discussed the content, held a parent meeting, and signed contracts that showed everyone was on the same page with the expectations. There were two songs that concerned me. The first one was “You Won’t Succeed on Broadway…if you don’t have any Jews.” I was concerned until I realized an important fact: the song is accurate. There would be no Broadway without the amazing talents of certain Jewish visionaries. Rodgers and Hammerstein, Sondheim, Gershwin, Berlin, Schwartz, and other great composers teamed with David Hyde Pierce, Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane, Ethel Merman, Kristin Chenoweth, and Idina Menzel. The song is a homage to the beautiful Jewish contribution to our craft. The second tune is “His Name is Lancelot,” and reveals--in spectacular fashion--that two of our characters are gay. It was important to me that the young men we cast in these roles are comfortable with themselves. It is also important to me that our students who are gay know that our song is not intended to insult, but to highlight the absurdity of homosexual stereotypes.
There are two main themes in our production. 1. Find Your Grail. Set a goal; surround yourself with people who love and support you; believe in yourself, and you will succeed. 2. Always Look On The Bright Side of Life. Sometimes life sucks, things get hard, and people are cruel. Sometimes we need to not take life too seriously; stop our knee jerk reaction to be offended by everything; and realize if we are all laughing WITH each other, then no one is laughing AT us. I believe wholeheartedly, we all could use a lot more laughter in our lives.
To my audience: Thank you for coming, and enjoy the show!
To my 9th period Intro to Theatre Class: I could not have done this without you!
To my production team: The vision of this show is top notch because of your work and determination. Thank you for trusting me!
To my cast and crew: Thank you so much for the laughter these last few weeks. Your product this weekend is spectacular, and it makes me so happy to see you so happy. You have no idea how much my soul needed a good laugh.
To my family - My wife Tina and children, Anna, Joey, and Charlotte: - I miss you so much and I will be home soon.
Now... GET ON WITH IT.
