Review – The Broadway Players, Spamalot – Eastbourne

 

The Royal Hippodrome Theatre, Eastbourne is the home for this hilariously full on production, featuring an enthusiastic cast who sing, dance and act their socks off. From start to finish it just bounces along with so many scenes and characters it would be impossible to comment on them all. Led by David Watts as King Arthur, who has terrific impact throughout with some fabulous dialogue and songs, and accompanied by his four knights of the realm, they navigate the tale perfectly and create a show that is pure delight.

Sir Lancelot (Michael Shepherd), Sir Robin (Stan Fillery), Sir Galahad (David Nicholles) and Sir Bedevere (Nicholas Reynolds), not forgetting Patsy the King’s personal horse/confidante (Dave Riddington), all give truly wonderful character interpretations.

Tiffany Da Silva as the Lady of the Lake, the diva of the ladies, is superb. She sings beautifully and makes the most of some very demanding songs. Josh South as Not Dead Fred and Prince Herbert is a hoot in both parts. Josh has a good sense of timing and anticipation in both roles and, as only last week he was performing in a different production with the Broadway Players Youth Company, proves what a talented and versatile actor he is.

With a huge supporting cast, wonderfully sumptuous costumes and a very robust set, it would be hard to tell this from a full blown professional production but for one thing. Amateurs perform theatre for love and not money, they do it because they have a passion and that passion fills the packed theatre and raises everyone’s spirits.

The familiar scenes with the Killer Bunny, The Black Knight, The Flying Cow, the Knights who say Ni and “The French” are all faithfully recreated to offer up a production that greets you like an old friend would, as long as you are familiar with the works of Monty Python. Even Eric Idle makes an audio appearance as God.

This is such a fun packed, brilliantly performed, wonderfully sung and supremely camp production that the creative team should be justifiably proud and looking forward to their next 2017/2018 productions Oliver, Guys and Dolls, Whistle Down the Wind and, not for the faint-hearted, The Full Monty.

****            Four Stars

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