A Grand Night Out - Spamalot!

There are some definite advantages to living in Las Vegas. 2-for-1 coupons is a biggee. They're pretty easy to come by if you want a buffet, but every now and then the locals get a really special deal... like 2-for-1 tickets to Spamalot.

Spamalot, which has been running at the Wynn Resort since March 2007, ends its Vegas run on July 13th. I'd been wanting to see this show, but if you've priced Vegas show tickets lately, you know it's not like it was in the old days. Tickets for big-name shows can start at $100, and those are the cheap seats! Spamalot is actually one of the more "affordable" shows, with tickets starting at $69. Now, $140 plus tax (for two tickets) is more than I want to pay to see anything. But when they're 2-for-1, it's a downright bargain. It ended up being about $40 each, which is great for a live show. And what a show it was!

I must admit, I was lukewarm about Monty Python and the Holy Grail (the motion picture from which Spamalot was lovingly ripped off). But this musical was so much better! Granted, it still retains a PG-13 rating, in my opinion, but it was full of wonderful surprises. In their quest for the grail, Arthur and his crew poke fun at pop culture and musical theatre in general.

My son, Billy, will be fifteen this month. He's always loved knights and in the last few years has developed quite an appreciation for musical theatre. Put the two together, and the boy was in heaven! When it was over, we went straight to the Shopalot store and picked up the original Broadway soundtrack (which was also half-off). We listened to it all the way home and it has been on practically non-stop ever since. I'm really glad we like a lot of the same things!


As for the cast, they were all stellar. John O'Hurley was born to play this role. As Arthur, he conveyed the perfect mix of regal obtuseness required by the role. But the real scene stealer here was Erica Ash as The Lady of the Lake. An incredible performer with a great voice, she also gets some of the best songs, like The Song That Goes Like This and The Diva's Lament.

Spamalot may be heading out of Vegas, but it's still on Broadway, and I'm sure it will be popping up here and there across the country. So, if you get a chance to see it, and you're not offended by Monty Python style humor, do yourself a favor and go. You'll laugh yourself silly.