“Monty Python’s Spamalot” is just off of Broadway and heading into a touring production this winter, which means that in this little lull the North Fork Community Theatre in Mattituck was lucky to grab the rights for a three-week run from Oct. 31 through Nov. 17.
This musical production is based loosely on the film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” which everyone has seen. Or at least, everyone who has seen it knows every word.
“I’ve been a Monty Python fan for a very long time,” says Robert Taylor, who is making his directorial debut with this NFCT production. “They take their silliness seriously.”
Acolytes of the film who haven’t seen the musical will recognize much of the first act, which is “Ripped Off from the Motion Picture” but they may be stunned by the deviations in Act Two.
But don’t fear, says the fearless director. The whole lot of this play was written by Eric Idle, and is “of the same caliber” as the film.
If you believe Monty Python takes their silliness seriously, you should also believe the North Fork Community Theatre takes their musical theater seriously. The show is packed with veterans of the boards here, from the age of 17 to 70, who are all having a rollicking good time with the material, according to their director (shh… they didn’t know they had a king).
“They’re an amazing cast,” he said, during the calm before a well-behaved rehearsal Sunday evening ahead of hell week before the show opens Thursday, Oct. 31. “They are just naturally picking up on the energy, and rehearsals get very silly.”
Mr. Taylor is a retired electrical engineer who was involved with the NFCT as a teenager before he went off into the world. When he returned, he found the theater recently renovated. He’s been having a lot of fun with set design, building a fog machine, and putting the new tech improvements through their paces, including the hot new pit orchestra.
That’s good because comedic timing isn’t the only important timing in this musical.
“It’s not quite Sondheim, but in the Overture, in a single page, there are three time changes and four key changes,” he says of the score.
No matter, these actors are up for the challenge, says Assistant Director Stephen Ness, who directed last spring’s NFCT production of “Follies,” whose music was actually written by Stephen Sondheim.
“These actors are so committed. They rehearse for 12 to 13 weeks, Sunday through Thursday, and most of them work or have school,” he said. “We have two 15-year-olds on the stage crew, and they’ll be here, from 6 to 11 p.m., on a school night. This theater is all volunteer. No on is paid.”
But that’s not in any way a dig on the professionalism of this silliness. There’s still a place in the world for professional volunteers.
“I hope the audience can get a chance to laugh,” said Mr. Taylor. “Particularly in this climate today, it’s important to look on the bright side of life, and let loose with a real good laugh.”
But please, make sure you don’t miss the curtain, which at evening shows (Thursday through Saturday) goes up at 7:30 p.m., a half hour earlier than it used to. Sunday matinees will remain at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $33 and are available at nfct.com.
The theater, Mr. Taylor says many people don’t know, is at 12700 Old Main Road in Mattituck, and is eagerly anticipating being discovered by new audiences. — BHY
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