'Spamalot' coming to River Campus Sunday

Entertainment at Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus this season has been primarily mainstream fare -- classical and big band music, a dance troupe, a one-woman comedy and a classic Broadway musical. This Sunday evening, that will change.

Monty Python's "Spamalot," the musical treatment of the cult classic film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," comes to the Bedell Performance Hall at 7:30 p.m. Sunday for one performance. The production is part of national tour running through June.

"Spamalot" -- winner of three 2005 Tony Awards including Best Musical -- takes an irreverent, satirical slap at anything within reach. Like the 1975 film, the play spoofs the story of King Arthur and his knights with the trademark silliness and cleverness that made the British comedy troupe so popular. The show takes playful stabs at Broadway musicals, the Los Angeles Lakers cheerleaders and Christianity in the Middle Ages, to mention a few targets.

The production's book and lyrics were written by original Python member Eric Idle, with music by John Du Prez.

Devotees of Python won't be surprised that the satire includes content that might raise eyebrows. There is a smattering of four-letter words and mock violence, including a stage recreation of the classic film scene of the systematic dismemberment of the Black Knight. Animal lovers might be taken aback by flying cattle and the execution of a man-eating rabbit with a holy hand grenade. And then there's the "outing" of Sir Lancelot.

River Campus box office director Ellen Farrow said that only about 100 tickets remained as of Thursday, priced at $49 and $43.

River Campus assistant director Bob Cerchio thinks sales numbers indicate the area is ready for comedy that pushes boundaries.

"The humor is very over the top," said Cerchio, who has seen the play on Broadway. He doesn't believe the local crowd will take offense at the parody but admits "there's nothing out there that doesn't offend someone."

Playing the role of Sir Lancelot is Adam Grabau, a stage veteran who appeared in productions of "Les Miserables," "The Producers" and "Beauty and the Beast" before joining the cast of "Spamalot." Grabau grew up as a Python fan and estimates that he has seen "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" at least a dozen times, the first when he was about 6 years old.

Grabau said performances by John Cleese and Hank Azaria -- who isn't part of Monty Python -- helped to shape his own portrayal of Lancelot.

"You have to pay homage to the original while making it your own," Grabau said.

Just as members of the Monty Python ensemble each played multiple roles in the film, the same holds true of the cast of "Spamalot."

In addition to Lancelot, Grabau portrays the French Taunter, a Knight Who Says Ni, and Tim the Enchanter.

Multiple characters mean not only a lot of costume changes, but also quick changes in voices and accents, which Grabau says are his forte as an actor.

"It's kind of my bread and butter," Grabau said. "I market myself as a character actor."