Monty Python's Spamalot Musical Gets Cast
Frisky070802 writes "Slashdot reported last fall that a musical version of Monty Python and the Holy Grail was in the works for Broadway. A new CNN article talks about the latest news, including casting (Hank Azaria and Tim Curry, as well as David Hyde Pierce of Frasier fame as Sir Robin!) and scheduling. And, oh yeah, it was Spamalot after all.... not Spamelot as the last Slashdot article claimed. Watch for previews late this year and Broadway next spring."
*shrug* I didn't find American Pie the slightest bit funny and had people laughing all around me on the flight I watched it on, just differences in senses of humour.
I will agree that the films themselves may not be all that funny at the time, personally I find them boring mostly. What really makes Monty Python funny is when people quote it later on, it brings a group closer when you all remember a little bit of a Monty Python skit...even if you've never actually *seen* it before.
For some reason I see the same thing happening with other humour sources such as Futurama (all rise for a moments silence...), The Simpsons and HHGTTG. They all seem funnier when quoted later on, generally the more random and out of context the quote the funnier it seems.
Don't steal our history chaps, try and make some of your own.
Those are different things -
There's no particular reason why you should like one just because it's authors are from the same geography as the other.
Otherwise if you like Matt Groening's cartoons, you'd have to like Tonya Harding's work too.
Certain types of humour require a higher level of intelligence and cultural sophistication to appreciate. Benny Hill doesn't. Monty Python does.
Elitist, snobby comment? Probably. But is it true?
Nah, I'm English and I like monty python, but not benny hill. But sophistication? Bollocks to that. Monty Python films are not funny because they're 'sophisticated' and because the uncultured plebs can't understand them, they're funny because they're well written. I very much doubt that they were made so the intelligent overlords could worship them and look down on the people who didn't like them. For fucks sake, if someone doesn't like them they just don't, it's not because you're more intelligent than them.
Why can't people just see the films as a source of enjoyment rather than a weapon to put people down who don't agree with you?
Sorry, I have to speak up, because my wife is on Broadway... in a musical... a very cheesy musical, but also a very fun musical that brings lots of joy and entertainment to people looking for a good night out.
I can totally understand when someone says they don't like Broadway. There are definitely many parts of it that aren't "good." My wife actually dislikes parts of it too, mostly the parts related to the "disney-ification" of the musical genre and the corporate mentality of profit before quality, as well as the slowly eroding support of the actors and actresses by the big production companies (Disney, Clear Channel, etc.). But she has to live with both the bad and the good, otherwise she wouldn't be able to make a living.
However, that doesn't mean there aren't some real gems to find, including original, thought-provoking musicals that really do a good job of intertwining powerful music with good stories. Not everyone can make those kinds of musicals and plays, but they do happen.
So, I guess my question is, what is it that causes you to hate Broadway? I'm not asking because it hurts my feelings, because it doesn't. I'm just curious, because it was a pretty broad statement. It's similar to "I hate Linux" or "I hate Windows." There must be something specific you hate? Do you hate live theatre? Do you hate big musicals, big plays? Do you hate the cheese?
Now, that all being said, I will tell you that I met a guy a few weeks ago that is in this new musical and was also part of the auditioning process so he saw many of the people trying out for it. He's also a Python fan himself. He's not just some actor/comedian who's doing this for a paycheck. He's part of it because he loves the whole Python experience. And he said that most of the other people involved are also big Python fans. So, basically, this musical may be pretty good because it's being done by people who care. It's basically a bunch of Python geeks putting on a musical, with some original Python members involved in the direction. What true Python geek wouldn't be excited by this? Anyway, I'm looking forward to it. It may totally crash and burn, but I have my hopes...
+1 Insightful, -1 Troll. What can I say, I'm an Insightful Troll.
[fx: shiver of horror and disgust]
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