Spamalot Show Synopsis
In one short sentence, King Arthur and his knights are searching for the Holy Grail, singing and dancing along the way
with the Lady of the Lake, the Laker Girls, dead people, villagers, casino workers, French taunters and many more
Longer synopsis: A recording encourages members of the audience to "let your phones ring willy-nilly, but be aware
there are heavily armed knights in this show that may drag you on stage and impale you." The orchestra warms up
until a crew comes out to ask if they are ready to play the overture. An archetypical English Historian lectures on
medieval England and the legend of King Arthur, however, the cast thinks he says Finland rather than England and
sing the "Fisch Schlapping Song" lead by the town mayor. Penitent monks in hooded robes cross the stage (“Monk’s
Chant”) and King Arthur canters in without a horse, but with his servant Patsy clapping coconut shells together (“King
Arthur’s Song”), seeking knights to join his round table at Camelot. He encounters two guards at a castle who are
more interested in debating if two swallows could carry a coconut than in listening to him.
Robin, a weak frightened man meets Lancelot, a large handsome, rather violent man, as he collects plague victims,
including Not Dead Fred, who sings and dances in an attempt to persuade them he is not yet dead (“He is not Dead
Yet”), along with various dead and live villagers. Robin and Lancelot resolve to join Arthur and become knights.
Arthur meets a mud gather, Dennis Galahad and his mother, both political radicals, who reject Arthur’s claim that he is
King of England, even though he explains he is king because the Lady of Lake gave him the sword, Excalibur. The
Lady of the Lake then appears (“Come with Me”) with the Laker Girls (“Laker Girls Chant”). The Lady of the Lake
takes Dennis off to transform and they sing “The Song that Goes Like This”. They are joined by Sir Robin and Sir
Lancelot as well as Sir Bedevere and "the aptly named" Sir Not-Appearing-In-This-Show (a knight resembling Don
Quixote, who apologises and leaves). Together, they make up the Knights of the Round Table ("All for One").
The knights gather at Camelot, which resembles a Las Vegas casino, complete with showgirls, servants and tap
dancing knights (“Knights of the Round Table”) where great merriment ensues. In the midst of their revelry the Voice
of God tells them to sally forth and find the Holy Grail as does The Lady of the Lake (“Find Your Grail”). Travelling
through many lands, they arrive at a French castle and are taunted by lewd French soldiers. Sir Bedevere reveals a
plan to defeat the French via a giant Trojan Rabbit but forget to hide inside. Routed, they run off (“Run Away”)
taunted by French people including can-can dancers, mimes and more (and catapulted cows).
The Historian introduces Act II. Sir Robin and the minstrels follow Arthur and Patsy into a ‘dark and very expensive’
forest where they are separated. Arthur meets the strange Knights of Ni who demand from him a shrubbery as
payment for passage. Arthur despairs of finding one but Patsy tells him to “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”.
Sir Robin’s minstrels sing deridingly of his bravery (“Brave Sir Robin”) and he is frightened off by the Black
Knight. Arthur fights and defeats the Black Knight’s by cutting off his arms and legs. However, the Black Knight
wants to keep fighting for ‘tis only a flesh wound!
Arthur finds a shrubbery and gives it to the Knights of Ni but they demand he also put on a Broadway musical. Sir
Robin explains they won’t have Broadway success unless they have Jews and there follows a wild production number
with many Broadway caricatures and musical icons (“You Won’t Succeed on Broadway”).
A very angry Lady of the Lake appears and bemoans her lack of solo in Act II (“Whatever Happened to My Part”) in
high iva style.
An arrow is shot into the chest of Sir Lancelot’s servant Concord from a presumed damsel in distress and Sir Lancelot
rushes to save her. The damsel is the rather effeminate Prince Herbert, who has been locked up in a tower by his
father, King of Swamp Castle who wishes him to marry. Prince Herbert (“Where are You?”/”Here You Are”) attempts
escape with Sir Lancelot’s help but nearly falls to his death, luckily saved by Concord. Sir Lancelot is then outed as a
gay and they celebrate with a crazy disco production number (“His Name is Lancelot”).
King Arthur laments he is “All Alone” with Patsy, despairing of putting on a Broadway musical. The Lady of
the Lake appears and tells him they have been a Broadway musical all along. Reunited with his knights they
meet Tim the Enchanter who warns them of the dangerous Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog ahead who is
guarding a strange stone block. The rabbit kills Sir Bors but is then defeated by Arthur who finds it is a
puppeteer. Arthur then uncovers a stone block with a number but he and his knights cannot solve the clue
until God’s Hand points to that seat in the audience and the grail is found (“The Holy Grail”).
Arthur marries the Lady of the Lake who reveals her name is Guinevere (“Twice in Every Show”), Sir
Lancelot marries Prince Herbert and Sir Robin decides to pursue a career on Broadway. Naturally a big
cast production number finishes the show! (“Act 2 Finale: “I Am Not Dead Yet/Find Your Grail/The Song that
Goes Like This/Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”).
Roles in Spamalot
Arthur,
King of
England
Male
30s –
60s
Bari
Low G2
– High
F4
Bari
Low C3
– High
E4
Lead
role,
Very regal and a rather full of himself. Plays the straight man.
The King of England, who sets out on a quest to form the Knights of the
Round Table and find the Holy Grail. Able to sing and strong acting role
Sir
Lancelot,
the
Homicidall
y Brave
Sir Robin,
the NotQuite-SoBrave-asSirLancelot
The Lady
of the
Lake
Male
Lead
role
Advantage if tall, strong and handsome
A Knight of the Round Table. He is fearless to a fault but through a twist
of fate discovers his "softer side." Comic Timing and acting needed
Male
Bari
Low D3
– High
G4
Lead
role,
Easily frightened and a bit weak, keen on musical theatre
A Knight of the Round Table. Ironically called "Sir Robin the Brave,"
though he couldn't be more cowardly. Joins the Knights for the singing
and dancing. Ability to dance, sing and have great comic timing
Femal
e
Mezzo
with
SOP
notes!!!
Low E3
-High
B6
Bari
Low B3
– High
G4
Lead
role,
Sexy, able to sing a range of styles including pop, belt, jazz and a vocal
range able to manage the songs. Diva role. Age open.
Strong, beautiful, possesses mystical power, must be able to sing
effortlessly in many styles and vocal registers. Gets angry easily
THIS role is vocally demanding
Patsy,
King
Arthur’s
servant
Male
Lead
role,
King Arthur’s trusty servant/steed and companion. Unappreciated by
always looking for King Arthur’s approvale. Must be able to sing, dance
and clap coconut husks.
King Arthur's horse and servant. Under-appreciated but always longing
for Arthur's approval. Good, funny, physical mover with some tap
dancing. Advantage if can whistle
One of Arthur’s Knights, Mrs Galahad’s son.
A Knight of the Round Table. Begins as Dennis, a lower class "mud
gatherer" who is knighted and transforms into the dashing Sir Galahad.
Heroic tenor voice desirable.
Sir Dennis
Galahad,
the
Dashingly
Handsom
e
Male
Tenor
Low B3
– High
B5
Lead
role,
sings
duet
with
Lady of
the
Lake
and
some
movem
ent
Some ensemble cast may play one or more of the supporting roles and cameo roles. Casting of these will
be largely decided at auditions,
The
Open
Support Needs to have professorial presence and play as typical English teacher.
Professor
ing role Gender is open
(dialog
ue)
Sir
Male
Bari
Support One of Arthur’s Knights, important supporting role with dialogue. Must
Bedevere,
Low D3 ing role have appropriate voice and some movement.
the
– High
Strangely
G4
Flatulent
Prince
Herbert
Male
Tenor
Low A2
– High
A5
Mrs
Galahad
Support A little effeminate, helps Sir Lancelot find his softer side. Requires a
ing
character actor who can sing in falsetto and with excellent comic timing
Role
Cameo
(dialog
ue)
The
French
Taunter
Mayor of
Finnish
Village
Not Dead
Fred
Open
Brother
Maynard
Open
Sir Bors
Open
Sir NotAppearing
-in-thisShow
Head
Knight of
Ni
Tim the
Enchanter
Open
The Black
Knight
Open
Concorde
Open
King of
Swamp
Castle
Lead
Minstrel
Male/
open
Lady with
Shrubbery
Open
Guards
and
Sentries
Open
Priest
Open
Open
Open
Open
Open
Open
BARI
Cameo
(dialog
ue)
Cameo
(singing
)
Cameo
(singing
and
dancing
)
Cameo
(dialog
ue)
Cameo
(dialog
ue)
Cameo
(dialog
ue)
Cameo
(dialog
ue)
Cameo
(dialog
ue)
Cameo
(dialog
ue)
Cameo
(dialog
ue)
Cameo
(dialog
ue
Cameo
(singing
)
Cameo
(dialog
ue)
Cameo
s
(dialog
ue)
Cameo
Dennis’s Mother, archetypical crotchety old lady but is political radical.
Traditionally played by male but open to anyone who can play on old
lady, so could be a woman playing a man playing a woman or a man
playing a woman.
Stylised French accent. This role requires someone who can play an
archetypical Frenchman who insults King Arthur and his followers
Leads the song “Finland, Finland, Finland”. Ability to fall over when
slapped by a dead fish
Sings and dances trying to persuade he is not yet dead.
Camelot’s clergyman who intones about how to throw the holy hand
grenade.
A Knight of Camelot who is killed by the Killer Rabbit
Knight dressed as Don Quixote
The dreaded cult Knights of Ni, led by the very tall Knight of Ni
Could be a witch or wizard
A psychotic, "invincible" knight who will insist on fighting even after all his
limbs have been cut off
Sir Lancelot’s trusty servant/steed, also must be able to play coconut
husks
Prince Herbert’s father, cranky, could possibly be Queen of Swamp
Castle
Lead Minstrel and minstrels who follow Sir Robin around
Gives King Arthur a shrubbery she is throwing out (the cat got at it)
Guards in first castle, guards of Prince Herbert, guards at French castle,
guards at Camelot
Collecting alms for the poor (picks up Black Knights arms)
Voice of
God
Male
May be recording
Open
Off
stage
cameo
Cameo
The
Killer Rab
bit of
Caerbann
og
Laker
Girls
Femal
e
Dance
Troupe
Must be good movers. Varity of dance styles. (6 – 8)
Knights of Ni
Guards and sentries
Beggars and paupers
Story tellers
Knights of Camelot
Puppeteer
Minstrels
Castle servants
Dead Bodies
Monks and Nuns
French People (mimes, painters, Can-can dancers)
Wedding guests
There is a lot of scope for Doubling/Trebling as required, as it was
written with this in mind.
Musical Items
Act I
Tuning and Overture
Historian’s Introduction to Act I
Finland/Fisch Schlapping Dance
Orchestra and crew member
Historian
Mayor and Finnish Villagers
Monk’s Chant
King Arthur’s Song
Company
King Arthur, Patsy
I am Not Dead Yet
Knights of the Round Table
Not Dead Fred, Lance, Robin
and Bodies/Villagers
Lady of the Lake, King Arthur,
Laker Girls and company
Laker Girls
Sir Galahad, Lady of the Lake
King Arthur, Patsy, Sir Robin, Sir
Lancelot, Sir Bedevere, other
knights
Knights, dancers and Company
Find Your Grail
Lady of the Lake and Company
Run Away
Knights and Company
Come With Me
Laker Girls Cheer
This is the Song that Goes Like This
All for One
Act II
Entr’acte
Historian’s Introduction
Always Look on the Bright
Side of Life
Brave Sir Robin
You Won’t Succeed on
Broadway
What Ever Happened to
my Part
Where are You?/Here you
Are
His Name is Lancelot
I’m All Alone
Twice in Every Show
Act 2 Finale: I am Not
Dead Yet / Find Your Grail
/ The Song that Goes Like
This
Always Look on the Bright
Side of Life
Orchestra
Historian
Patsy, King Arthur, Knights, Knights of Ni,
Peasants
Sir Robin and Minstrels
Sir Robin and Company
Lady of the Lake
Prince Herbert
Sir Lancelot, Prince Herbert and Company
King Arthur, Patsy, Knights, Company
Lady of the Lake, King Arthur
Company
Company and audience
Monty Python Humour
Surreal (or absurdist) humour is a form of humour that presents situations in an unpredictable way that may
be ridiculous and thereby subverting the audience expectations. (Wikipedia, 2014)
The secret to the humour of Monty Python is that is delivered straight not with a wink or a grin. It is
considered the quintessential British humour. An example of Pythonesque humour is the famous dead
parrot sketch. John Cleese enters a pet shop to complain that the parrot he purchased is dead. The pet
shop owner, Michael Pallin, argues that the parrot is not dead. Sadly, this sketch is not in Spamalot but we
may find a way for a Norwegian Blue to appear briefly.