Spamalot revives students during dead week

Despite dead week, students are not dead yet. Audience members were excited to weather the storm Wednesday night to see IU Auditorium’s final show of the season, Spamalot.

It’s also known by its other title, “Finns Ain’t What They Used To Be,” presented by The Flying Finns Aerial Ballet, Rovaniemi Traffic Police, Border Guards for Christ and The International Friends of the Sauna. All of these were mentioned in the program.  
“I’ve seen the show on Broadway and I love it,” said Bloomington native Shelby West. “I think the humor is universal and everyone thinks it’s really funny.”
The musical, which is “lovingly ripped off the motion picture Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” has had a cult following since its preview in Chicago and later opening on Broadway in 2005.

“I’m a big Monty Python fan,” said Indianapolis native Jeff Lee. “This is going to be a trip back down memory lane.”

Monty Python has a legacy of good humor which has transcended the decades. From television to film, and now the stage, whenever the name Monty Python is associated audiences flock to see it.

“It’s Old English humor. Slap stick.” Lee said “Some people don’t get it, but it’s just good comedy.”

The auditorium lobby had a large variety of people ready and waiting to hear the familiar songs and jokes in a new context.

“As I was walking around, I was seeing there were a lot of different people from different walks of life tonight,” said IU Auditorium Events Manager Maria Talbert. “I’m not sure what it is about Monty Python that attracts people, but I think it’s just smart humor. People love to laugh. And I think people always relate to the history of it. You have an affinity to it.”

As audience members took their seats, a loud English voice boomed through the IU Auditorium speakers. The voice asked people to talk as much as they like on the phones, feel free to tweet and Facebook and to loudly unwrap candy.

The voice quickly realized his mistake and told the audience not to follow the previous instructions. He then gave a hint of the treat that was in store.

When the lights turned down, the familiar intro music started, playing to the tunes “I am not dead yet,” “Always look on the bright side of life” and other numbers. A rowdy trumpeter showed off and was quickly shot by the conductor.

“I think it’s great to have a fun, light-hearted show at the end of the season,” Talbert said, “and we might have a similar type of fun show next season.”

After the intro music, the Historian came on stage and gave a quick history lesson of England.

Then, as if on cue, a large group of Finnish dancers danced onto the stage, slapping each other with fish and waiving the flag of Finland.

This error was quickly caught and the play was taken back to dreary ole England.
Spamalot poked jokes at the English monarchy and held important mathematical debates on whether or not a European swallow could carry a coconut.

The conclusion was that an African swallow could, but not a European one.
“I think this show is a good way to let off some steam from studying,” said IU sophomore John Machesky.