Something Silly
Normally when I write one of these program notes I try to draw a connection between the play that you are about to see and some of the issues or ideas that connect it to the theater world at large. But such a "serious" mission is difficult with a play as silly as this one. There are no "bigger" issues to be found in Spamalot. It exists only to be fun.
However, I did make a discovery about the form of comedy that makes this silly musical work. I realized that Spamalot is a satire of a satire. But even that makes it sound more intellectually lofty than it really is. It is, in fact, a burlesque of a burlesque. A burlesque is a type of comedy that makes fun of another theatrical or literary form. So, the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, on which tonight's musical is based, was making fun of (burlesquing) the classic legend of King Arthur and his knights. The show that you will experience tonight is a burlesque of that burlesque. It uses the Arthurian legend to poke fun at our love of the original movie and of Broadway musical stereotypes while at the same time using those same devices to make fun of itself.
This sounds way more complicated than it should and not very funny. So...now for something completely different...
It is time to enjoy this very silly show.
Mark Abram-Copenhaver
Artistic Director, South Bend Civic Theatre
SBCT Volunteer Ushers/Will Call (at time of printing)
Corky Patton, David Guisbert, Joan Szumal, Karen Frick, Kathleen Goepfrich, Terri Jarrett, Linda Thacker, Jeff Beyer, Jenny DeDario, Jesse Roland, Karin Hackler, Nancy Barber, Nora Cawley, Kate Barron, Norma Swanson, Olivia Becht, Teri Szynski, Gini Shepley, Cherry Silverburg, Matthew Bell, Pete Sullivan, Sandi Cortier, Kathleen Ray, Anna Knap, Barbara Sutton, Carol Smith, Cindy Wood, Ian Jahnz, Portia Duff, Lee Town, Art Kopec, Deanie Kopec, Margaret Suter, Chris Lim, Dorothy Suter, Martha Suter, Melissa Manier, Ted Manier, Phil Kwiecinski, Jane Hruska, Joann Molnar, Linda Lamar, Rita Dargis, Marybeth Saunders, KarenSue Janowiak, Mary Ann Moran, Frank Fujita, Lois Veen, Judy Spigle, Marc Adams, Bill Hunt, Christine Enyeart, Elaine Kremer, Jill Hunt, Christine Coudret, Chris Raab, Jackie Cook, Mike Cook, Pody Gherardi, Alicia Maure, Sandy Van Tilburg, Jamila Thomas, Katie Hammond, Margaret Morgan, Michael Zook, Naomi Zook, Paul Lamar, David Bechtold, Seyhan Kilic
