Review: 'Spamalot' Takes Stage At Robinson Secondary School

By Nick Tortora of Loudoun Valley High School

The holy grail of high school theater has been found at Robinson Secondary School: it's their production of Monty Python's Spamalot! In fact, with its ability to transcend the bounds of reality with ease, the Rambunctious Theatre should have been the first place we looked.

Monty Python's Spamalot opened on Broadway in 2005, with a book and score by Eric Idle and John Du Prez. Based on the 1974 film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," the famous comedy depicts the trials and tribulations of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table as they struggle through many lands to find the Holy Grail. In the process, of course, they find not only the grail, but themselves and their brides as well.

Daniel Williams as King Arthur controlled the stage with his silky smooth voice, and used his powerful stage presence and character movement to assert himself as king over the surrounding characters. His servant, Patsy (Nico Ochoa), consistently stole the show, exuding high energy and using his clear voice and crisp dancing to remind everyone to "always look on the bright side of life." As a unit, Williams and Ochoa expertly created hilarious stage chemistry between them that left the audience in stitches.

The Lady of the Lake was unconventionally played by three separate women: Jordan James (Lady of the Lake Griselda), Anna Maria Shockey (Lady of the Lake Guinevere), and Claire Burton (Lady of the Lake Godiva). Despite this risk, each actress impeccably crafted a separate character that still fit under one overarching entity, executing this concept so perfectly that it was actually hard to imagine just one person playing the Lady of the Lake. As a trio, their voices blended together beautifully, mesmerizing both the knights and the audience and staying true to the allure of the character.

Every time the ensemble graced the stage, they were energized, excited, and engaged, with every single ensemble member involved and mentally present. In big, showstopper numbers, such as "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" and "Knights of the Round Table," every cubic inch of space was bursting at the seams with spirit, the audience blown back by the sheer power from the stage careening through the auditorium. Additionally, the entire cast knew how to milk every last drop of comedy out of moments without letting the hilarity become too excessive; this kept the time the audience spent rolling in laughter to maximum potential.

Zany, eccentric sets, including a projection in the background of additional illustrations rooted in absurdism, magnificently framed the fantastical nature of the show. The costumes further developed specific characters, allowing what each actor developed on the interior to be expressed equally on the exterior. Props served as an extra special touch on the bizarre settings, especially the addition of a killer bunny, complete with a cute wave and a bloody muzzle of jagged teeth.

Perfectly timed and breathtaking lighting punctuated dramatic moments, while still showing balance and reserve at points as to not overdo less inherently flashy scenes. The musicians of the Robinson Pit Orchestra took on their own characters, invested in the story not only through their beautiful, balanced music, but also in their vigor and pep, accentuating the comedy of the show and emphasizing exciting moments.

After an uproarious night of uncontrollable laughter and electric energy, it became clear that you won't succeed on Broadway if you don't have the enormously talented cast and crew of Robinson Secondary School's production of Monty Python's Spamalot.

Image via Rich Condit