Review: Spamalot

Review: Spamalot | Town Hall Arts Center | Littleton, CO | Curtain Up! | Gina Robertson

A silly comedy built on low humor and unapologetic puns only works when the company commits without hesitation—no winking, no apology, just a wholehearted plunge into the ridiculous. Littleton’s Town Hall Arts Center does precisely that with Spamalot by Eric Idle, and the result is a high-energy, raucous good time that never once pretends to be above its own nonsense.

The stellar cast in action! | Photography credit: RDG Photography

In Town Hall’s intimate space, the show somehow expands to theatrical proportions. Director Robert Michael Sanders, Executive Director of Town Hall Arts Center, and choreographer Ronni Stark pack every minute with buoyant dance numbers and hilarious physical comedy—so much that any absence of plot or character depth becomes part of the evening’s charm. The controlled chaos creates a sense of freedom, all while maintaining the kind of precision that convinces you there might be a story in there somewhere

Audience participation is woven into the evening, with one lucky patron even drafted onstage to join the mayhem. Whether you’re whistling along to “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” or swiveling to catch the parade of dancing divas, gays, and Jews, there’s scarcely a moment to ponder more profound questions like whether a sparrow can carry a coconut. The holy grail here is entertainment, and this production hands it over without making you solve any riddles first.

Of course, true fans know Spamalot isn’t designed for traditional storytelling. It’s about laughing at jokes you’ve known for years and clapping along to the silliest of songs. This production keeps the scenes and musical numbers flowing smoothly, with costume and prop gags landing cleanly and on cue, as if the show’s been waiting all this time for you to laugh again.

The charming and adorable King Arthur (Ben Stasny) leads his knights on a delightfully narcissistic quest for the Holy Grail. Stasny brings boundless energy and a fearless willingness to hurl himself into the show’s heightened nonsense, often stealing scenes simply by believing in them harder than anyone else.

His Lady of the Lake (Sherean Samimi) matches him with charisma and razor-sharp comedic timing. She tears into “The Song That Goes Like This” and “Diva’s Lament” with vocal power and ease, tossing off impossible notes as though she’s mildly amused you thought they might be difficult.

Arthur’s knights and adversaries enthusiastically embrace accents and physical comedy. The jokes are targeted at Python fans, many of whom are in the cast. Joshua Thomason stands out as the taunting Frenchman, the Knight Who Says “Ni!”, and Tim the Enchanter—each delivered with a new comedic twist, as if he’s been waiting his whole life to say “Ni!” with conviction. Alejandro Gutierrez, playing multiple parts, demonstrates his versatility, including a surprise piano medley that feels like a bonus track the audience didn’t expect.

Arthur’s loyal servant, Patsy (Caleb Reed), finally gets his moment in “I’m All Alone,” where Arthur completely ignores him. Reed’s subtle resignation adds humor and heart to the scene, briefly making Arthur the unwitting sidekick—a dynamic Patsy seems too polite to acknowledge.

Costumes are delicious, from the Lady’s lush green velvet ensemble in Act II to the parade of nuns, priests, knights, African kings, beggars, and not-quite-dead bodies. Designers Nicole Harrison and Kamla Presswalla add clever details that keep the visual jokes popping, and a particularly bloody costume gag involving the killer rabbit earns a well-deserved roar, as all killer rabbits should. Michael Duran’s minimal set proves effective and well-suited for this period piece.

When the material is as silly, familiar, and beloved as Spamalot, the challenge is making it feel fresh. This production succeeds by trusting the original and playing it straight—no forced modern references, no unnecessary updates—just wholehearted commitment to the absurd, delivered with the confidence of a show that knows exactly what it is.

For information and tickets: https://townhallartscenter.org/event/monty-pythons-spamalot/