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Dartford: Review of Spamalot at the Orchard Theatre

It's been a very long time since I watched Monty Python's Holy Grail, but like riding a bike, if you love Pythonesque silliness, you'll be able to remember pretty much every line no matter how long it's been.

I know this because most of the lines are there in Monty Python's Spamalot, which is at the Orchard Theatre in Dartford all this week.

"We want...a shrubbery!" "I'm not dead." "'Tis but a scratch."

"We want...a shrubbery!"
"We want...a shrubbery!"

For those who love Python, those lines cannot fail to raise a wry smile.

Spamalot is an interesting take on the Holy Grail as it does have all the scenes you know and love, plus music at every turn - including Always Look on the Bright Side of Life - but it's slightly different.

The fact that it doesn't have the original Pythons doesn't really matter and, I have to say, the cast had their mannerisms and voices down pretty well, especially Sir Lancelot played by Johnathan Tweedie. I also really liked Bob Harms as King Arthur, who was very much his own Arthur, but in a really good way.

Spamalot
Spamalot

It also has some extra pieces, such as Grace Eccle as the Lady of the Lake, whose voice was phenomenal in What Happened to My Part. And look out for the Black Knight and how his battle injuries are shown on stage.

It was opening night for the cast at the Orchard in Dartford, and they made sure there were plenty of references to the town, including giving Air & Breathe a name check, which went down a treat with the packed, local house.

"Un lapin?"
"Un lapin?"

Some of the original scenes felt a little dated, especially Sir Lancelot rescuing a "damsel", though that was updated in the finale. I also personally found the cast seemed to warm into it more in the second half, with more ad libs etc - and then suddenly it was all over.

You can go and see the show through to Saturday, April 28, though, now I've seen it, I will be giving the film a revisit soon too!

To book visit orchardtheatre.co.uk or call 01322 220000.

Spamalot comes to the Orchard Theatre, Dartford (1568038)
Spamalot comes to the Orchard Theatre, Dartford (1568038)
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