Spamalot World Record

There's nothing like a good publicity stunt.

Last March, the producers of the hit Broadway version of Spamalot gathered 1,789 Monty Python fans together in New York's Shubert Alley to create what was then the biggest-ever, and presumably the first-ever, all-coconut orchestra.

Participants banged together empty halves of coconut shells, an homage to the preferred mode of transportation in the classic "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," to the tune of "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life." (Which is actually from "Life of Brian," but I digress.)

In a case of friendly oneupmanship, members of the London production amassed 5,567 coconut-wielding enthusiasts in London's Trafalgar Square, handily breaking the world record. Original Python members Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam were on hand to conduct the proceedings.

The event got tons of press. At this writing, Google lists about 339,000 Internet references to the event. Even NPR included a blurb on the event on Monday's "All Things Considered."

As I've posted before, I'm a huge Monty Python fan, so I was ecstatic when I heard about Spamalot. But I was a bit disappointed in the actual show. It's a tremendous amount of fun, but it's not great musical theater. The book and the staging are hysterical, but the score is just awful: puerile melodies, bad scansion, too much assonance. It works in the theater, but it doesn't hold up on repeated listenings.

But I'm glad that the show has become and international hit. Currently there are productions on in New York, London, Las Vegas, as well as a U.S. touring production. Blockbusters tend raise the profile of musical theater in the eyes of potential ticket buyers, and a rising tide, to a certain extent, lifts all boats.

Comments

[Esther]

Chris,

I'm a Monty Python fan, too, although perhaps not as huge a one as you are! Still, I'm looking forward to seeing Spamalot on tour when it comes my way next winter. I just have two questions: what are bad scansion and too much assonance?

[chris caggiano]

Bad scansion: when you put the em-PHA-sis on the wrong syl-LA-ble

Assonance: when you rhyme the vowel, but not all the consonants, as in "play" and "train," or "girl" and "world."

Pet peeves of mine (among many, alas).

But as I said, Spamalot is still a worthy and very funny show.

[Esther]

Thanks for the great explanation. I'll never forget them now, and I'll definitely keep my ears open for examples.