Monty Python's Spamalot Musical Gets Cast 132
Frisky070802 writes "Slashdot reported last fall that a musical version of Monty Python and the Holy Grail was in the works for Broadway. A new CNN article talks about the latest news, including casting (Hank Azaria and Tim Curry, as well as David Hyde Pierce of Frasier fame as Sir Robin!) and scheduling. And, oh yeah, it was Spamalot after all.... not Spamelot as the last Slashdot article claimed. Watch for previews late this year and Broadway next spring."
Re:Casting from 'Frasier' eh... (Score:2)
Re:Casting from 'Frasier' eh... (Score:1)
I see it as a good match. Sir Robin is a weasely coward. As I recall, his "shut up"s are more of the whiney, "come on guys, stop picking on me" nature.
Re:Casting from 'Frasier' eh... (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Casting from 'Frasier' eh... (Score:2)
I mean, yes, he did play the character of Niles, but I think that's as far as it goes. DHP hasn't really been seen in many roles that allow him a great deal of flexibility, so I have to suppose that there's depth to his acting ability beyond the "'pinstripe' conviction" for which Niles was notorious.
I mean, hell... look at Wil Wheaton. You can't exactly judge the guy based on Wesley Crusher. I say, give the guy a chance.
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Oh that's just GREAT! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Oh that's just GREAT! (Score:5, Funny)
I'm so there.
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Evan
Re:Oh that's just GREAT! (Score:2)
Me, im many 1000's away (km's, Miles, still the same).
oh yes, "THIS IS AN EX PARROT", *teehee*
Re:Oh that's just GREAT! (Score:2)
Just like many of the mega-cities, it is well worth a trip. Lovely colour.
--
Evan "Theater fan"
Re:Oh that's just GREAT! (Score:4, Funny)
And possibly a few lumberjacks.
Re:Oh that's just GREAT! (Score:1)
Re:Oh that's just GREAT! (Score:2)
The Nerd Factor (Score:5, Funny)
Heck, if they can find a role for Brent Spiner (he's done broadway before), then I think we've got ourselves a geek's wet dream live on stage.
Re:The Nerd Factor (Score:2)
Re:The Nerd Factor (Score:1)
Re:The Nerd Factor (Score:1)
We're not allowed. Strict policy of "Don't ask, Don't Tell".
Re:The Nerd Factor (Score:1)
60of9
Re:Oh that's just GREAT! (Score:1)
BTW: Aii have tooo pushh the pram-a-looot!
Re:Oh that's just GREAT! (Score:3, Funny)
Re: Oh that's just GREAT! (Score:3, Insightful)
[fx: shiver of horror and disgust]
Scary for a moment (Score:4, Funny)
Singing Frenchmen? (Score:2, Funny)
On the other hand, i've always wondered what the witch burning part would be like in song.
Re:Singing Frenchmen? (Score:1)
"I fart in your general direction"
Caught him doing the chef song from the Little Mermaid at a con once. Half the half-wits in attendance called him "Reen". We have some poor excuses for nerds 'round here.
Yup. (Score:5, Funny)
That is, without doubt, the most gratuitous exclamation mark I have ever seen.
David Hyde Pierce is awesome (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:David Hyde Pierce is awesome (Score:2)
Re:Yup. (Score:1)
Re:Yup. (Score:2)
Re:Let the quoting begin! (Score:5, Funny)
I can't decide (Score:3, Interesting)
That said, I don't know if this will make me like broadway more or the Holy Grail less.
I think I will just opt to read the reviews and just tell everyone I heard of it and was thinking of watching but I haven't had the time yet.
Re:I can't decide (Score:3, Interesting)
OK, I'm intrigued. How does one "hate Broadway?" It's like "hating books" or "hating films." Now, I can understand hating musicals, or hating musical comedies, or hating certain types of dramas, even hating certain theaters, but "hating Broadway?" Did some stage manager drop a sandbag on you at an early age? Help me out on this one...
Re:I can't decide (Score:2)
DING! DING! DING! Today's Effete Ignorant Snob Award goes to the sullen AC in the corner in the black turtleneck and iPod headphones smoking the clove cigarette. Tell him what he wins, Johnny...!
Waitaminnit... (Score:2)
Clove cigarette - check; nostalgic reminder of my early youth in a coffeehouse. (Plus I never developed a taste for any regular tobacco brand except Silk Cut, which isn't available in the US anymore.)
iPod - working on it.
Sorry; what was the point again? Oh yeah; the "Effete Ignorant Snob" stereotype.
Anyway, I don't know what the original poster has against "Broadway". I do know that some people hear the word and have an instant men
Re:I can't decide (Score:5, Insightful)
I can totally understand when someone says they don't like Broadway. There are definitely many parts of it that aren't "good." My wife actually dislikes parts of it too, mostly the parts related to the "disney-ification" of the musical genre and the corporate mentality of profit before quality, as well as the slowly eroding support of the actors and actresses by the big production companies (Disney, Clear Channel, etc.). But she has to live with both the bad and the good, otherwise she wouldn't be able to make a living.
However, that doesn't mean there aren't some real gems to find, including original, thought-provoking musicals that really do a good job of intertwining powerful music with good stories. Not everyone can make those kinds of musicals and plays, but they do happen.
So, I guess my question is, what is it that causes you to hate Broadway? I'm not asking because it hurts my feelings, because it doesn't. I'm just curious, because it was a pretty broad statement. It's similar to "I hate Linux" or "I hate Windows." There must be something specific you hate? Do you hate live theatre? Do you hate big musicals, big plays? Do you hate the cheese?
Now, that all being said, I will tell you that I met a guy a few weeks ago that is in this new musical and was also part of the auditioning process so he saw many of the people trying out for it. He's also a Python fan himself. He's not just some actor/comedian who's doing this for a paycheck. He's part of it because he loves the whole Python experience. And he said that most of the other people involved are also big Python fans. So, basically, this musical may be pretty good because it's being done by people who care. It's basically a bunch of Python geeks putting on a musical, with some original Python members involved in the direction. What true Python geek wouldn't be excited by this? Anyway, I'm looking forward to it. It may totally crash and burn, but I have my hopes...
Not a direct quote, I hope (Score:2)
Re:I can't decide (Score:2)
Re:I can't decide (Score:1)
IMHO, this is the one big advantage (other than special effects) that movies have over live performance (theatre, broadway). Movies are a lot more personal and allow you to immerse yourself into the story and participate emotionally.
When I watch theatre or musicals I just really can't participate I guess. I could just chalk it up to the stimulus overload of my generation (born c. 1983), but that is like s
This is an American idea I suppose? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:This is an American idea I suppose? (Score:1)
Had you bothered to RTFA then you would have noticed the above line. Plus if making a broadway version of MPATHG is "stealing your history", then I'd say you "chaps" need to get off your duffers and do something of a bit more significance. Can't rest on your British Empire laurels forever ya know.
Re:This is an American idea I suppose? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:This is an American idea I suppose? (Score:2, Informative)
How will they handle... (Score:5, Funny)
What about Spam? (Score:5, Interesting)
Seriously, I wonder if this might hurt the company's meaty feelings [cnn.com].
Tim/Jim (Score:2, Funny)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?! (Score:5, Funny)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Dark Knights!
Teenage Mutant Ninja Dark Knights!
Teenage Mutant Ninja Dark Knights!
Heroes and a crack king, Python-Power!
They're the Camelot's fearsome fighting team!
They're heroes on a mock horse and they're green!
When the evil Frenchmen attack
These Arthur boys will never say "Ni!"
What...? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:What...? (Score:1)
Random quotes (Score:1)
Ni!
Ecky-ecky-ptang-zweet-zooom-POW!
Re:Random quotes (Score:1)
While we're waiting... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:While we're waiting... (Score:1)
Hope be with ye,
Cyan
This Might be Very Bad (Score:2, Flamebait)
Re:This Might be Very Bad (Score:1)
explain to me please how "it might be good. or it might be bad" is insightful.
that's like saying of a binary bit "it might be 1 or it might be 0".
dude, you left out mu... it might not be made at all
This might be insightful (Score:2)
But will it be as good as last year's.... (Score:4, Interesting)
In the Original... (Score:1, Informative)
I must be very odd... (Score:1)
The body!
What body?
Body's body!
It's gone!
How can you not love that?
Re:I must be very odd... (Score:2)
Easy -- I liked it the first time it was done. In Neil Simon's MURDER BY DEATH.
(actually, I enjoyed Clue... but MBD just did the whole 'murder at a mansion' bit better)
Music (Score:1)
apologies, more quotes (but accurate this time) (Score:1)
Well, absolutely, and what makes it worse, sometimes at the end of a sentence I'll come out with entirely the wrong fusebox. And the thing about saying the wrong word is a) I don't notice it, and b) orange water given bucket of plaster.
Careful. (Score:2, Funny)
I have this mental picture of the Comic Book Guy arguing plot points with the Queer Eye guys.
"Worst. Musical. Ever."
The Song!!! (Score:2)
The Song!!! (avec bouton "Preview") (Score:3, Funny)
We dance whene'er we're able,
We do routines and chorus scenes
And foot work im-pecc-able
We dine well here in Camelot
We eat ham and jam and spam a lot.
We're the Knights of the Round Table
Our shows are formidable
But many times we're given rhymes
That are quite un-sing-able
We're opera mad in Camelot
We sing from the diaphragm-a-lot
In war we're tough and able
Quite indefatigable
Between our quests we sequin vests
And impersonate Clark Gable
It's a busy life in
Aw, go on.. (Score:2)
Its only waafer thin..
(explodes)
Think of it! (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Spamalot (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I just don't get it (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:I just don't get it (Score:2)
Also recently when I was watching Old School with a bunch of mates the only time I laughed was when the blow job instructor mentioned something about "sucking on the teet of Remus, if you know your Greek mythology"...No one else got it, am I just that weird?
Re:I just don't get it (Score:2, Funny)
Re:I just don't get it (Score:2)
So, thats not this guys opinion, the error I think is the point: the guy found the quote funny because it's a factual error stated in an authoratitive manner.
Like a guy trying to convince you he knows electronics saying "yeah, see those two pinned cylinders, they're called MOSFETs". Some would find this funny, maybe.
Here's the problem... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Here's the problem... (Score:2)
Benny Hill was *really* funny, in a clever way.
You had to use your brain to understand a lot of the material, and he was certainly above "American Pie" type of humor.
Benny Hill was not a clown. He was rather intelligent and this reflected in his humor.
Re:Here's the problem... (Score:2)
Actually, I find Benny Hinn to be funny.
Re:I just don't get it (Score:5, Insightful)
I will agree that the films themselves may not be all that funny at the time, personally I find them boring mostly. What really makes Monty Python funny is when people quote it later on, it brings a group closer when you all remember a little bit of a Monty Python skit...even if you've never actually *seen* it before.
For some reason I see the same thing happening with other humour sources such as Futurama (all rise for a moments silence...), The Simpsons and HHGTTG. They all seem funnier when quoted later on, generally the more random and out of context the quote the funnier it seems.
Re:I just don't get it (Score:1)
Re:I just don't get it (Score:2)
Re:I just don't get it (Score:2)
Re:I just don't get it (Score:1, Interesting)
those are completely different types of humor ... while the circus-clown like humor of Benny Hill exercises your face and stomac muscles, watching a Monthy Python movie could be an exhausting but quite rewarding activity for your brain .. i find them both appealing and high-quality
Not a requirement (Score:4, Insightful)
Those are different things -
There's no particular reason why you should like one just because it's authors are from the same geography as the other.
Otherwise if you like Matt Groening's cartoons [who2.com], you'd have to like Tonya Harding's work [enquirer.com] too.
Re:I just don't get it (Score:1)
But I can't stand Benny Hill.
Re:I just don't get it (Score:3, Funny)
That explains a lot...
Re:I just don't get it (Score:5, Insightful)
Certain types of humour require a higher level of intelligence and cultural sophistication to appreciate. Benny Hill doesn't. Monty Python does.
Elitist, snobby comment? Probably. But is it true?
Re:I just don't get it (Score:5, Insightful)
Why can't people just see the films as a source of enjoyment rather than a weapon to put people down who don't agree with you?
Re:I just don't get it (Score:1)
I reckon you've hit the nail on the head. Python is funny because it's so silly, so unexpected, so against the grain that you just can't help laughing at even the simplest things... it sounds like psychological mumbo-jumbo, but it taps in to children of all ages. I used to laugh at the French taunter when I was 6, and I still do!
Re:I just don't get it (Score:1)
Re:I just don't get it (Score:1)
Death-"I am death"
Englishman-"Well, come on in Mr Death"
That's sophistication? It's just not funny.
LK
Re:I just don't get it (Score:2, Funny)
Re:I just don't get it (Score:2)
Python never had an especially broad appeal. I think the remarkable thing about their comedy is how well it's held up over time. Most funny stuff wears out its welcome pretty quickly - heard anyone say "Let's get small!" lately? How about "I'm Gumby, damnit!"? Most comedy doesn't even get it's federally mandated 15 minutes of fame be
Re:I just don't get it (Score:1)
Sadly, I have paraphrased both of your examples within the past week. However, your point is a good one. Not only has MP held up over time, but most people who enjoy it don't seem to mind watching again and again...
Re:WE ARE THE F.P.J. !!! (Score:4, Funny)
The PFJ was the people's Front of Judea.
Then there was the Judean People's Front.
And the Popular Front of Judea? That's him sitting over there...
Japanese suicide sqad, ATTACK! (Score:1)
Re:WE ARE THE F.P.J. !!! (Score:2)
Don't you oppress me!
Re:WE ARE THE F.P.J. !!! (Score:1)