Chattanooga Theatre Centre wraps up season with musical comedy 'Spamalot'

The Chattanooga Theatre Centre will wrap up its season with "Spamalot," the hilarious musical mashup of Arthurian legend and 1975 movie "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," making it the first local theater company to stage the comedy.

Eric Idle wrote the book and lyrics for "Spamalot" and co-wrote its music with John Du Prez. It's a very irreverent parody of "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" that tells King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table quite differently from the age-old legend. The original 2005 Broadway production of "Spamalot," directed by Mike Nichols, won three Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

When asked about the musical's unusual name in a 2014 press interview, Idle explained the title was inspired by the movie line, "We eat ham and jam and Spam a lot."

In the musical, "Arthur is sent on a quest to find the Holy Grail by the Lady of the Lake in a fabulous production number," director Lindsay Fussell says. "Arthur's sidekick is Patsy, a manservant who also serves as his horse. It's a really fun bit how Patsy becomes the horse."

While on his quest, Arthur recruits men to become his knights, who then join him on the quest. On their adventure they encounter Tim the Enchanter, Not Dead Fred, French people throwing chickens, as well as the Lady of the Lake and her Laker Girls.

"There's even a bit of audience participation in the show," says Fussell.

Rob Inman, a longtime audience favorite in CTC musicals, is cast as Arthur. Jennifer Arbogast is the Lady of the Lake. They are the only two of eight principal cast members who do not play multiple roles.

"Sir Lancelot is Bryan Kelly like you've never seen him," laughs Fussell. "He plays Lancelot, Knight of Ni and Tim the Enchanter. He has to use four different accents in the course of the show, and he's just amazing."

Fussell says the singers are accompanied by a six-piece ensemble directed by Tim Hinck.

"This show is filled with frolicking, rollicking music as well as beautiful power ballads," she says.

Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.