Monty Python's Flying Circus musical 'Spamalot' aims to bring silliness across US on tour

NEW YORK Eric Idle often contemplates the possibility of meeting extraterrestrial life and wonders if aliens would share our sense of humor. I believe they would, because humor reflects self-awareness, says Idle, a founding member of Monty Pythons Flying Circus. Its about laughing at yourself, your mortality, and the inevitable end that none of us can escape.

While interstellar encounters remain theoretical, Idle continues his mission on Earth: to make audiences laugh. He is currently launching a nationwide tour of his acclaimed musical Spamalot, starting this week in Ohio.

Laughter is essential. It offers both relief and a way to view life differently, Idle notes. The tour will visit over 30 cities in its first year, including Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Las Vegas, San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Atlanta, Dallas, New Orleans, St. Louis, Houston, and Milwaukee.

Idle describes musical comedy as the ultimate theatrical experience. It has everything drama, humor, dance, and spectacle. You get it all, he says. Spamalot delivers its humor through absurd scenes such as knights obsessed with shrubbery, characters clapping coconuts to mimic horse hooves, a dancing plague victim, rude French soldiers, and deadly rabbits.

The story is loosely inspired by the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, which follows King Arthur as he gathers knights to search for the legendary grail. Idle recalls that the original movie was made on a $400,000 budget, partially financed by members of Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, and shot over five weeks in the chilly Scottish countryside. It was cold and miserable, but hilarious, he says.

The idea to adapt the film into a stage production came while Idle was developing a CD-ROM game based on The Holy Grail. I realized, if it can work as a game, it can definitely become a Broadway musical, he explains. Idle wrote the script and lyrics, while John Du Prez composed the music. Director Mike Nichols, known for his mastery of comedy, played a key role in shaping the shows success.

Spamalot premiered on Broadway in 2005 and won the Tony Award for Best New Musical. Idle later rediscovered old diaries from the production period, revealing the challenges and creative struggles behind the scenes. These were published as The Spamalot Diaries, offering insights into crafting a musical from scratch.

Some of the shows most memorable moments include the Act II opener, Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, originally from Life of Brian, and the final number, Find Your Grail, which encourages audiences to keep pursuing their goals. Idle fondly recalls seeing theatergoers leave the Broadway production singing and tapping coconuts, a testament to the shows infectious humor. If you can get people to leave being silly and joyful, youve done something special, he says.

Monty Python, composed of Idle, Michael Palin, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, and Graham Chapman, brought a unique mix of satire, absurdity, and wit to British television between 1969 and 1974 and later extended their humor into films, leaving a lasting mark on comedy worldwide.

Author: Natalie Monroe