MCT’s ‘Spamalot’ set to debut in Ben Lomond

“Spamalot,” a musical play lovingly adapted from the motion picture “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” is all ready to make its Park Hall debut this Friday at 8 p.m. in Ben Lomond.
This will be the Mountain Community Theater’s first showing of “Spamalot,” which will run from Friday, Oct. 3 through Saturday, Oct. 25.
Kathie Kratochvil, MCT’s artistic director, said that she is a fan of Monty Python and fell in love with the show because of its dry, British humor.
“It just feels so good to laugh with people in a really positive way,” Kratochvil said, “and we are not laughing at anybody, we are laughing at the script, and at the humor, and at life, and that’s what I’ve loved the most about it.”
The musical takes place during the days King Arthur and is a spoof on the search for the Holy Grail, she said.
It is filled with plague humor and includes funny roles such as the French Taunters and the Black Knight who continues to fight on the battlefield despite his arms and legs being severed from his body.
The beloved and highly amusing fish slapping dance is another highlight of the performance.
Scott Whisler will perform the lead role of King Arthur and Naomi Gorham will play the Lady of the Lake.
The supporting cast members are playing a variety of roles and some have been double cast, Kratochvil said.
Arindam Krishna Das is the musical director and orchestra bandleader, and Kate Longini Pratt creatively designed the sets for the show.
One cast member, Declan Brennan, is double cast as Not Dead Fred and Prince Herbert of the Swamp. He said he appreciates working with the Mountain Community Theater group because of the comforting and accepting environment.
“I really enjoy everybody working on the show, actually more than the show itself, I think,” he said. “…It’s a great, big love fest backstage – and on stage, it’s great!”
Stand-up comedian and Mountain Community Theater member Karin Babbitt will also perform several roles, including the Narrator, a French Taunter, and God.
“There’s actually been this character that I have always wanted to find a place for and finally, with the narrator I can be this person,” Babbitt said. “…You are just being as goofy as you want to be.”
With the premiere of “Spamalot” fast approaching, Kratochvil said that she hopes that the laughter and humor experienced by the cast mates during rehearsals is transferred to the stage.
“It’s a huge production,” Kratochvil said, “there are hundreds of props, only nine weeks to put it on, 196 costumes for 29 people, and most of them being made from scratch.”
All the hard work will surely pay off as audience members laugh to a variety of humorous acts performed by the highly talented and invested thespians of Mountain Community Theater.
For more information, as well as ticket prices and showtimes, visit www.mctshows.org