Prince George and the Monty Python comedy troupe have always had a strong connection.
Firstly, the defunct drama group PG Theatre Workshop raised many operational funds over their years by staging Monty Python nights, complete with a letter from Python superstar John Cleese giving them permission to do so with no need to pay royalties. Audiences loved it, community actors lined up to participate, and the group thrived for decades.
Secondly, Prince George was famously criticized by luminary Python alumnus Michael Palin as part of his TV travel program. He declared to the world that this city "smells of drains" when he passed through in the days of untreated pulp emissions.
A new chapter in the Monty Python relationship opens this summer. Rehearsals are underway for the musical comedy Spamalot, which is loosely adapted from the Monty Python hit film The Holy Grail and even more loosely adapted from the legends of King Arthur. Director Judy Russell is running the freshly appointed cast through their early paces for the July 22 opening night.
"Kristen Helfrich [senior dance instructor] and I saw it years ago on Broadway and promised each other right there - we loved it so much - that one day we would do it in Prince George," said Russell.
"And I really needed to do it now - something sidesplittingly hilarious. Les Miserables [her most recent major production] was so heavy and oppressive and wonderful, I was facing some surgery and now I'm recovering from that, so it was something I had to do for myself. We all had to cleanse ourselves with [smaller niche productions] Evil Dead: The Musical, Nutcracker, and now this is going about as far away from that dark stuff as you can possibly get."
The reason Spamalot has caught on goes beyond the trademark Monty Python humour. It has picked up 14 Tony Award nominations, winning three of them including the ultra prestigious Best Musical trophy in 2005. Russell can attest to the complexity and quality of the music, dance and staging. She is now in the process of building it all.
"The Knights of the Round Table number is just epic, a fabulous, huge piece," she said. And she has had to hire an entire symphony orchestra for the live soundtrack.
"As we do, with our productions, we hire the professional core of the Prince George Symphony Orchestra and for the other instruments we require, we hire local talent first and import whomever we need after that," Russell said. "The casting call brought out a groundswell of actors. Community actors love to do Monty Python. Our cast is formidable, and so fun."
Those who love Monty Python's style of comedy and drama love it dearly. Russell said she isn't having to adapt her sensibilities to the script because she is one of those cultish fans of the troupe from back in their BBC days.
"We watched Monty Python's Flying Circus every week in our family," she said. "I remember going to see Holy Grail at the Denman Theatre when I was just in my early teens and even the credits made me laugh hysterically. Monty Python is in my blood, a lot of people feel the same way, and the humour was so well designed that it has stood up to all the tests of time."
Tickets for Spamalot are available now at Studio 2880. The play runs at the PG Playhouse from July 22 to August 2.
