By Ronald Hellman
If the never-ending and demeaning presidential campaign has got you down—and if it hasn’t, you haven’t been paying attention—then I have a remedy that is guaranteed to lift your spirits. It can be found in Jamaica Estates in the auditorium of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Academy where the Royal Star Theatre is about to open its production of “Spamalot”.
“Spamalot” won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2005, in a production that was directed by Mike Nichols, and ran for over 1,500 performances on Broadway. Adapted from the film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” it is a parody of the legend of Camelot’s King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Created mainly by Eric Idle of Python fame, “Spamalot” will now make its first appearance on a Queens stage.
Always looking for something out of the ordinary, Royal Star gives us a show you haven’t seen in these parts. “Spamalot” is the companay’s third production, following a musical revue and “Side by Side by Sondheim.” A new player on the Queens scene, the group is celebrating its one-year anniversary, but it sprang from the FSF Community Theatre after 41 successful years at the Free Synagogue in downtown Flushing. Now its home is in a “suburban” neighborhood, and, yes, there is plenty of free parking on site.
Directed by Erik Neilssen, with musical direction by the much-in-demand Paul L. Johnson and choreography by Lisa Bondi, “Spamalot” has a cast of 18, some playing multiple roles and some switching genders. Lead players are Jim Haines, Jason Kell, Paul Mastrella, Jackie Moe and Amanda Montoni.
I was fortunate enough to attend a recent rehearsal, and if an audience has even half as much fun as the actors were having, then they are certain to have a really good time and leave with a smile. Show dates are Nov. 5, 11 and 12 at 8 p.m., and Sunday matinees Nov. 6 and 13 at 3p.m. Royal Star can be reached at www.royal
Being community-minded and wanting to support the arts programs at Immaculate Conception, Royal Star has a fund-raiser planned for Sunday, Dec. 4, at 3 p.m. It will be a radio show version of a play you may have heard something about, “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. The word is it will be guided by veteran director and performer Debbie Bendana.
So let’s be optimistic in spite of the news of the day while the “Spamalot” characters search for the Holy Grail. And let’s sing along with the hit number from the show—originally in the film “Life of Brian”—“Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”.
Contact Ron Hellman at RBHOF
