‘SPAMALOT’
>> Where: Diamond Head Theatre, 520 Makapuu Ave.
>> When: 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 4 p.m. Sun- days, through Aug. 10
>> Cost: $15-$35
>> Info: diamondhead-theatre.com, 733-0274
You don’t have to be a fan of Monty Python to appreciate the antics in Diamond Head Theatre’s "Spamalot."
The hit musical comedy is an adaptation of the British comedy troupe’s 1975 cult classic "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." Founding member Eric Idle’s book and lyrics guide an anachronistic plot centered on King Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table and the quest for the elusive relic.
The movie’s memorable scenes and characters are extravagantly enhanced through irreverent song and dance numbers. The eclectic score by Idle and John Du Prez adds an onslaught of silly spoofs of favorite classic musicals.
The cast’s synergy and their obvious enjoyment of the roles and material make it easy to join in the fun. Most performers take multiple roles, relying on physical comedy to accentuate the tongue-in-cheek dialogue.
In the male-dominated cast, the real show stopper is Kalia Medeiros as the Lady of the Lake. It takes a great diva to play one, and Medeiros, with amazing aplomb, blows her musical numbers out of the water. The Laker Girls joyously perform rousing team cheers and jive to the music in every way, shape and form.
Each leading man performs his own special song with great conviction, enjoying a well-deserved spot in the limelight.
Wearing the bejeweled crown of the agreeably pompous King Arthur, Laurence Paxton directs the action, declaring, "God be praised, we have a quest!" Aided by his trusty servant Patsy (Venis Goodman), he proceeds to round up his knights.
We meet Sir Galahad (Butch DePonte-Merideth), Sir Bedevere (Braddoc DeCaires) and Sir Lancelot (Garrett Hols), who gets to cleverly address the same-sex marriage issue when he informs his newfound love, "Just think, Herbert. In a thousand years’ time this will still be controversial."
The singing, dancing Sir Robin (Tony Young) explains that theater people are "a different people, a multitalented people, a people … who need people … and who are, in many ways, the luckiest people in the world."
"Spamalot" won the 2004 Tony Award for best musical and ran nearly four years, spawning a West End run, several national tours, and professional productions in 20 countries.
The sets, props, costumes and hair, lighting and sound design are as colorful and sonorous as the characters. The behind-the-scenes crew at DHT obviously worked arduously and passionately to materialize the show.
New York guest director and choreographer Andrew Sakaguchi brings out the best in each performer and creates a diversity of stylized production numbers that keep the whole crazy entourage moving forward.
Musical director Phil Hidalgo also keeps things hopping, skillfully interweaving comedy with song and producing an ideal sound balance between the performers and the tightly knit band.
"Spamalot" is an enlivening journey. If British humor isn’t your cup of tea but the names Not Dead Fred and Sir Bedevere the Strangely Flatulent make you smile, consider a quest for absurdly enjoyable theater.
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Jane Kerns is a doctoral student at the University of Hawaii at Manoa who holds degrees in theater and vocal performance and has performed as an actor and singer in New York.
