Since it was announced that a Monty Python and the Holy Grail musical, entitled Spamalot (you know, from the Camelot dance number), was heading to Broadway next year, we've all been wondering: would we finally see a Python reunion onstage? (Apart from Graham Chapman, who rather selfishly died a few years back, of course).
Well, today the cast for the Eric Idle-penned, Mike Nichols-directed spectacular was announced, and the short answer is 'no'. The longer answer is 'no, there won't be a Python reunion, as only Idle is actively involved'. But the longest answer of them all is 'no, there won't be a Python reunion, but given that the announced cast is cracking, then that won't matter so much, eh?'
For comic heavyweights David Hyde Pierce, Tim Curry and Hank Azaria have all signed on to step into the shoes/frocks/coffin of Messrs. Chapman, Cleese, Gilliam, Idle, Jones and Palin. And for that we must rejoice, for three more gifted comic performers you'd struggle to find. Curry's performance as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show is legendary; as is Hyde Pierce's turn as Niles in Frasier; while Azaria makes a habit of being the funniest thing in any movie he's in. Oh, and he's the voice of Moe and Chief Wiggum, among others, in The Simpsons. So they're all excellent mimics, gifted physical comedians and have got good singing voices - it's perfect casting.
The show, which debuts in Chicago in December, before moving to Broadway next February, has been billed as "the musical comedy lovingly ripped off from the motion picture'.
The storyline will bear close resemblance to the original film (arguably the Pythons' finest hour), but it is curious that the title - and the close association with the Python brand - is not being retained. After all, the Camelot dance sequence was probably the worst thing in Holy Grail. Even so, we've already started saving for our trip to Broadway. We might not go, though. It is such a silly place...