Character Breakdown: SPAMALOT Cast Unpacks Their Roles
May 16, 2024
In this video, watch as the cast of Spamalot breaks down their roles ahead of opening night at the St. James Theatre.
Show More Show Less View Video Transcript
0:00
So I play Sir Galahad, originated by the incredible Chris Seber
0:12
And he is narcissism incarnate. Chris Seber is not. Chris Seber is an amazing person
0:16
But Sir Galahad is absolutely just this ball of just look at me and my greatness
0:23
And it's really just a blast to kind of just pal around with like James and Taryn as the knights
0:30
I also play the Black Knight, which like won't spoil that surprise if you know, you know. And I also play Herbert's father, which is just like a mean, horrible person
0:38
But like he gets he gets what's coming to him in the end. So it's a bunch of fun characters for me. Absolutely
0:44
It's a no brainer for the role when I knew you were cast. And I was like, it's about time
0:48
Oh, thank you. Um, yeah, it's so funny. I went in not fully knowing I did not watch anything or really I listened to the album
0:55
But, you know, of course, I hear Sarah's incredible voice in my head
1:00
And I saw the original 20 years ago. But yeah, for me, it's you know, I get to be this glamorous, fierce diva
1:08
And then, you know, I and I play this like sort of old school Vegas lounge singer, which
1:14
is my favorite part of the show. Literally, that's my favorite. And then I get to be the actress who's playing Lady of the Lake and who's just frustrated
1:21
that she doesn't have a bigger part, which I think is so genius because so many actors
1:24
think that way. And yeah, it's just it's wonderful. And it's it's it's an incredible score to sing
1:32
I have a lot to sing. No, no pressure, but it's great
1:37
I'm just I'm excited. It's you know, it's the best when you get parts like this and you don't see them coming
1:43
and it's a surprise in your career. You're always like, I want to do this. I want to do this. And then you get a role
1:48
You get a show like this and it's just a surprise. And that's what Spamalot was for us
1:52
We had no idea that our production at the Kennedy Center was going to last more than two weeks. And here we are
1:58
I play Patsy. I carry a very heavy backpack. I think what I love, what I'm discovering, because again, it's been one week, Richard
2:10
is his love and devotion to the king and to the mission
2:17
is so just I just love that kind of positive, real love, you know, and also there's a lot of obstacles that come in that way
2:27
And those create funny scenarios because of that sincere love. And maybe he's not always good at his job, you know, and for you
2:38
Well, I mean, you know, it's like I hate to, you know, bring in another another company
2:43
But in the words of Mel Brooks's Bart, you know, you know, first black king, it's good to
2:49
be the king. So it's really, really fun to be able to step into this role. And play with these amazing performers
2:55
And also I play King Arthur and I mean, hell, yeah, I mean, the journey is mine
3:02
I play a bunch of different characters. I get to play the historian, Not Dead Fred, Prince Herbert
3:07
I play a mime. I play a little baby. I just and they're all really different and incredibly fun
3:14
I think one of the things that I'm having the most fun doing in this first week is getting really physical. It's like I get to kind of throw my body around on stage and do
3:22
some physical stuff that I just find the most fun thing in the world. So, I mean, that that's the thing that right now I'm loving the most
3:28
But I also love the variety that we get to do in this show while while still having a
3:32
through line. And I mean, variety with a through line. Terrence really got that on lockdown
3:36
Yeah, I've done some variety. See, Ethan is young and elastic. So moving around is a highlight to him
3:43
The first two days we did a read through. We did scene work. We were quoting Monty Python
3:46
Like, I got this. And then day three came the choreography and I felt 41, folks
3:52
I am 41. I literally go home and enter a pile of Epsom salt
3:57
It's just just just up to my neck and just stay there in sort of a like like like
4:03
sarcophagus style tomb in a pile of Epsom salt and then return to the rehearsal
4:07
process. Like a phone that you dropped in the Hudson River. Yeah, exactly. Drying it out, drying out my ancient old like ligaments and muscles
4:16
Who do you play? I have the honor of playing the Lancelot track, which includes the French taunter
4:22
one of my favorite roles, the Knight of Knee, one of my favorite roles
4:25
Enchanter Tim, one of my favorite roles. So I said I'm only doing the show if I get to play all of my favorite roles
4:31
And they agreed. I play Sir Bedivere mostly, but I also play Dennis's mother, which is very fun
4:39
It's it's just a great time. You know, it's very much like kind of heightened sketch comedy
4:45
The show. I also play Concord, who gets shot with an arrow. And, you know, as he's struggling to stay alive, keeps helping
4:53
So it's just it's so it's just so much fun. And having the audience just roar with laughter and have the best time
5:00
It's it's the greatest. I play Sir Robin and a couple of guards
5:07
I also play. Oh, Brother Maynard, who comes in towards the end
5:12
But I play Sir Robin, and that's my main role that I show up throughout
5:17
But there's a couple of these incredible sequences that are lifted right from the movie
5:23
These brilliant comic pieces. It's like I mean, Brother Maynard is the is the, you know
5:31
count to three, one, two, three, that that whole sequence, which is right out of the movie. Brilliant
5:38
The show manages to like ride the line of highbrow and lowbrow
5:42
so effortlessly. Sometimes it's wordplay. And in the next scene, it's fart jokes
5:47
And I don't know. I don't really know any other show or piece of work that can do that
5:53
They can be highbrow and lowbrow at the exact same time. Minute to minute, it changes
5:58
And we all get to do that. I mean, we all get to jump from fart jokes to wordplay
6:03
like it's nothing. And it's cool
#Events & Listings
#Performing Arts
#Animated Films
#Comedy Films
#Drama Films
#Musical Films
#Vocals & Show Tunes
#Broadway & Musical Theater


