Knights noble, scared and those with special catchphrases rode their way into The Q – Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre for the opening night of Free-Rain Theatre’s outstanding rendition of Monty Python’s Spamalot.

Transporting the crowd back to medieval England, King Arthur searches for brave and noble knights to join his ‘very round table’ after being anointed to the top position when the Lady in the Lake handed him Excalibur. Picking up a few (questionably) good men, Arthur hears the voice of God who instructs him on a mission to find the holy grail.

The mission is dangerous, and they face many foes and distractions, including knights unbothered by flesh wounds, an apparent damsel in distress, and the French. Through seamless costume, accent and character changes, the cast seems twice the size, all parts demand attention. The musical numbers are big as the live orchestra gets in on the fun, the costumes are colourful – from can-can dancers to velvet clad trees – and the dance numbers are excellent.

The wickedly funny show moves quickly with the characters’ sharp tongues even quicker. Full of banter and wit, the production is perfect for those wanting a dose of classic British humour. 

It’s easy to look on the bright side of life with such great entertainment on our doorstep. Highly recommended 4.5 stars.

See Monty Python’s Spamalot at The Q – Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre until 24 September; theq.net.au

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