For my father’s birthday, I got tickets for my parents and me to see a Broadway show. I wasn’t sure which show my father would want to see, so I went with my own preference: Spamalot. As a Monty Python enthusiast, I wanted to see Spamalot since it first came out. I was not disappointed.

We started off the evening at Don Giovanni’s in Midtown. This Italian restaurant is always my preference for dining in the theater district because of its convenient location, wide variety of delicious and inexpensive food, and the fact that it lacks the touristy crowd so common in that area. This establishment has a dish for everyone (picky-eaters and vegetarians included). Plus, it has outdoor seating which I always enjoy. I ordered one of my favorite dishes: the Rigatoni Special, with eggplant and fresh mozzarella and a glass of wine. After our delicious meal, we headed over to the Shubert Theater, a short block away, to enjoy the show.

Following a traditional Monty Python animated intro, the show began with the legendary coconut clipclops as King Arthur “riding” in search of knights for his round table. The production featured classic Holy Grail dialogs such as the sparrow carrying coconut debate, the anarcho-syndicalists, and the Knights who say Ni. The famous line “I’m not dead yet” was actually made into its own song!

You could tell the Monty Python fans in the audience because they laughed in anticipation of the most hilarious scenes, before they even occurred. For example, when the castle with the Frenchman appeared on stage, the laughter began before the actor even opened his mouth, much less had a chance to call King Arthur’s mother a hamster. I did miss some classic scenes not included in the show, such as Sir Galahad’s lusty adventure and the questions on the bridge. But the show captured the mood and humor of the original Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I’d recommend it for those who want a good laugh and don’t mind a bit of lewdness on Broadway.