In an article reviewing "Spamalot" (the musical theater version of "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"), the reviewer notes that attendance at musical theater has been largely the province of women and homosexual men. This is something of which I have been blissfully unaware. He goes on to note that "Spamalot" brings in a new audience of straight men who, in turn, are bringing their wives (who are suprised that they enjoy this silliness).
Quite frankly, I thought it would appeal mostly to the sort of no-social-life nerd who has had the movie memorized since his college days in the seventies. People like myself, in other words.
My wife engineered a big group of family and friends to attend the touring matinee at the Fox Theater in St.Louis today. There were a couple of folks in costume and one lady carrying a large stuffed bunny (presumably a killer bunny). Most folks just had on their regular "nice clothes", though. The production was lavish and the performances were great, and the crowd was very appreciative. I didn’t enjoy it nearly as much as I would have liked. I did enjoy it, but when you know all the dialogue forwards and backwards, the jokes don’t have much impact. There were a few new things, and there were a few moments when the performance transcended my familiarity with the old material. I’m not saying I didn’t have a good time.
I’m happy to see the success of the repackaged old war-horse, but I’m glad I had a nice day with the family and friends,too. If I’d been looking forward to this like a kid to Christmas, I’d have been a little let down. Nostalgia is not all it’s cracked up to be. Be that as it may, it was still a very good day.