Whether you love Monty Python or not, it’s highly probable that you won’t leave this show without having cried with laughter (or letting out a little wee).

Phill Jupitus (Never Mind The Buzzcocks) takes the lead role in the musical, based on the ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail‘ movie, starring as King Arthur and is supported by Todd Carty (Eastenders’ Mark Fowler) who plays Patsy, the King’s servant/ non-existent horse. Carty does a sterling job of banging together two coconuts as he follows The King on his quest whilst  Jodie Prenger, who won the BBC1 programme, I’d Do Anything, as  The Lady of The Lake, shines as the main vocal force as the search for the Holy Grail begins.

Act I brings renditions of the ‘Fisch Schlapping Song’, ‘King Arthur’s Song’ and ‘Knights Of The Round Table‘, as familiar scenes from the film are revisited (Crazy Monks, Bring Out Your Dead, Dennis The Constitutional Peasant, Knights of The Round Table).  But it’s the final scene of Act I that brings the biggest laughs (so far).  The French Castle sketch, where the French are taunting King Arthur and his Knights was simply brilliant.  Watch out for the flying cow.

The hilarity continued from the very start of Act II, with a visit to the Knights Who Say Ni and the song that everybody knows Monty Python for, Always Look On The Bright Side of Life.  After a search for a shrubbery and The Black Knight fight, there is a return to the Knights Who Say Ni (although they don’t say “Ni ” any more – much to Phill Jupitus’ amusement as he struggled to stop himself from cracking up – resulting in even more laughter from the crowd). For me, the stand out performance in Act II came from the camp performance of David Langham prancing around the stage as Prince Herbert .

Without giving too much away, (if you’ve seen the film, it shouldn’t take much guesswork), the show continues until the Grail is found – and right until the very end it really is a laugh a minute, with audience members from 8 to 80 in fits of hysterics throughout.

There are some great dance routines and the brilliant musical score put together by Eric Idle and John Du Prez, mixed with topical Python-esque gags (including a mention of Ryan Giggs’ antics and appearances by Susan Boyle and Ozzy Osbourne) makes the show a truly fun night that is not to be missed.

Spamalot runs at The Mayflower, Southampton until Saturday 11th June 2011.

http://www.mayflower.org.uk/event.asp?show=MONTY11&utm_source=MFHomePage&utm_medium=MFWeb