Teen Theater Review: SPAMALOT, Marin Shakespeare Company

Teen review by: P.D.

A Must See

I would recommend the play Spamalot by Monty Python, as performed by the Marin Shakespeare Company, to a teenage or adult audience, as certain scenes are not appropriate for small children. I attended the preview performance on the 27th, and found it very amusing.

Despite having seen the film before, the new material introduced, different perspectives, and comedic timing kept it very entertaining and fresh. This performance is an homage to Monty Python's Holy Grail, but incorporates elements of many different skits from the TV series and the movies, yet is ultimately a satirical piece on the musicals in general.

The showings of Joseph Patrick O'Mally -"Not yet Dead Fred"; Bryan Kumar - "Patsy"; and Susan Zelinsky - "The Lady of the Lake"; were especially noteworthy. Joseph Patrick O'Mally stood out for his exceptionally well time and well accented lines. Bryan Kumar, who didn't have much of a presence in the beginning of the play, but his singing voice and detailed acting truly came to light near the end of the play.

The most impressive singing by far was performed by Susan Zelinsky, who, while playing a diva, frequently interjected with very humorous musical numbers, which break the fourth wall perfectly. The most entertaining musical number, in my opinion, was "This is a Song That Goes Like This".

The version which I viewed was a pre-production, and as such was not perfect. The French taunting scene needed the most work, requiring greater confidence and better timing in line delivery. The effects during the entire play, while campy, were done in such a manner as to be humorous, with very good timing, especially the black knight and the beheading performed by the rabbit. All this being said, I greatly enjoyed the performance, and would highly recommend attending.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

What: “SPAMALOT”
Where: Forest Meadows Amphitheatre 890 Belle Ave. San Rafael (map)
When: Now through Aug. 25; 8pm Thursdays, 7:30pm Fridays, 8pm Saturdays, 4pm Sundays
Admission: $10 to $38
Information: marinshakespeare.org

Photo Credit Jay Yamada