Monty Python's Spamalot at Auditorium Theatre

Chicago Tribune - Highly Recommended

"...This latest Chicago engagement—which I suspect will be the last, at least with this size a production—even comes with a bona fide star in Richard Chamberlain. I don’t know why it took them so long to think of Chamberlain for Arthur. He brings to the role a pair of high cheekbones, a classical actor’s timing, an irony-free presentation and a certain maturity. There is also, at times, a deer-in-the-headlights quality to the performance, which only makes it funnier."

Chicago Sun Times - Recommended

"...Richard Chamberlain, who has stepped into the role of King Arthur for the very first time during the tour's Chicago stop, is a treat -- more at ease, more game for nonsense and more dauntless than he has been in any previous musical. And he is well-matched to this edition's Lady of the Lake, the lithe and flirtatious Esther Stilwell, whose voice might not have the power and range of originator Sara Ramirez but who fits in better overall."

Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended

"...director Mike Nichols's production gives the audience its money's worth with a steady stream of sight gags, and an ingenious multimedia visual design inspired by Terry Gilliam's iconic cartoons for Monty Python's Flying Circus. Familiar bits from the 1975 movie--including the Killer Rabbit who must be destroyed with a holy hand grenade, and the Black Knight who refuses to concede defeat even when all his limbs have been hacked off--are complemented with witty nods to musical-theater lore and newsy references to the Blagojevich scandal and George Bush's shoe-dodging incident."

EpochTimes - Recommended

"...There are some standout performances. Esther Stillwell has a marvelous voice as the Lady In The Lake. Sir Robin is played by James Beaman, who had us all beaming with his delightful humor. Ben Davis does a nice turn with Sir Galahad and Matthew Greer is a strong Sir Lancelot. These lead players also take on many other roles as do most of the cast members making this what I call a true ensemble show. A production that shows that "there are no small roles, only small actors" as every role, every movement, every line of speech is important to the overall quality of the production, and this one has it. Bravo!"

Edge - Recommended

"...As for Spamalot, well, what can you say? It’s a very silly, popular, high energy Tony-and-Grammy winning romp that admits to being a rip off of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Since Python member Eric Idle wrote the book the borrowing is probably forgivable. That Spamalot derives a lot of its humor from fart and gay jokes may or may not be, depending on your taste and ability to appreciate silly folderol."

ChicagoCritic - Recommended

"...It is raw, crude and silly—but never dull. It is a well staged musical comedy of the first order. Its fun is contagious. It is what we need during theses hard times."