Image: Secondary Characters / Chilliwack audiences should expect a hilarious adventure to unfold before their very eyes as cast members from Secondary Characters (shown in practice) perform "Spamalot" starting Friday, July 19 through Sunday, July 28 at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Secondary Characters

Tony Award-winning musical “Spamalot” to run July 19-28 at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre

Jul 18, 2024 | 10:00 AM

CHILLIWACK — “Spamalot” director Steffi Munshaw has a personal connection to the Tony Award-winning musical set to take the stage at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre later this week.

“I grew up watching Monty Python with my dad – he was a huge fan and watched Flying Circus when it originally aired,” said Munshaw. Some of my best memories of my dad were watching Monty Python with him; he would be laughing so hard he would have tears streaming down his face. Spamalot is an amazing musical because the book and lyrics are written by Eric Idle, a Python himself. The humour is so fast and so clever. It’s a bucket-list show, for sure!”

Chilliwack audiences should expect an enchanting comedy to unfold before them as Secondary Characters performs “Spamalot” starting Friday, July 19 through Sunday, July 28 at the Cultural Centre.

Directed by Munshaw, with choreography by Ann Matterson and vocal direction by Paula Quick, this production promises to deliver a fabulously entertaining experience. The musical score is masterfully conducted by Shannon Goldsmith, ensuring an incredible auditory spectacle.

“Spamalot,” lovingly taken from the classic film comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail, retells the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, featuring a bevy of beautiful show girls, not to mention cows, killer rabbits, and French people. The 2005 Broadway production won three Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and was followed by two successful West End runs.

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This show features actors from all over the Fraser Valley, featuring an eclectic cash that embarks on a quirky quest filled with humor, misadventures, and toe-tapping musical numbers in the search for the Holy Grail.

Munshaw highlights some standout performances:

“We have an incredibly strong cast this year – their range of experience makes the jokes land perfectly,” Munshaw said. “Jessica Spenst returns as the Lady of the Lake after many successful productions in Vancouver, including a lead role in Theatre Under the Stars’ ‘We Will Rock You’ that earned her an Ovation Award. New to our company is Patrick Arnott, playing King Arthur. Patrick is a professional dancer, trained in both Vancouver and England, and was nominated for an Ovation Award for his performance as Uncle Fester in FVMT’s ‘The Addams Family.’ In addition to these seasoned pros, we have a number of newcomers to the stage. It’s always a joy to witness their first theatre experience.”

Performance Details:

Dates: Fridaya, July 19 to Sunday, July 28

Location: Chilliwack Cultural Centre, Rotary Hall, 9201 Corbould Street

Tickets: $35 adults, $29 seniors, $25 students and children under 12

Purchase Tickets: At the Chilliwack Cultural Centre Box Office in person, by phone at 604-391-SHOW, or online at www.chilliwackculturalcentre.ca

Key Production Team:

Director: Steffi Munshaw

Music Director: Paula Quick

Choreographer: Ann Matterson

Conductor: Shannon Goldsmith

Spamalot The Musical:

Book and Lyrics: Eric Idle

Music: John Du Prez

Original Screenplay: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin

Original Broadway Production: Produced by Boyett Ostar Productions, The Shubert Organization, Arielle Tepper Madover, Stephanie McClelland/Lawrence Horowitz, Elan V McAllister/Allan S. Gordon, Independent Presenters Network, Roy Furman, GRS Associates, Jam Theatricals, TGA Entertainment, and Clear Channel Entertainment

Monty Python’s Spamalot is being presented in Chilliwack through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by Theatrical Rights Worldwide, of New York.

The director says production could not take place without the following sponsors: Creative Outlet (Venue), Dreamscape Painting (Paint), MNP, CANEX Building Supplies, Chartwell Chilliwack (Actors Circle Sponsors), Box it up Storage, Figure 8 Software, and Royal LePage (Backstage Fan Sponsors). The musical is also supported by the Chilliwack Cultural Centre and the province of British Columbia.