Spamalot...
Spamalot.....
SPAMALOT!!!
(it's only a musical)


First of all, for those not familiar with Monty Python's Flying Circus, watch this now:


Actually, even if you are familiar with Monty Python -- watch it anyway. The Argument Clinic is a great sketch, and it only takes two minutes.

Good.

And now for something completely different completely the same.

This evening, I had the pleasure of accompanying my friend Miss-Not-Appearing-On-This-Website to the musical production of Spamalot, which is on tour in the area. All evening, I was looking for some way to engage someone in an Argument -- or in the words of Michael Palin, a Simple Contradiction.


I tried to have a go at it at the souvenir stand after the show (which was quite excellent, by the way -- I'd highly recommend seeing it, if you ever get the chance). Unfortunately, the kid hawking killer rabbit slippers and the like proved to be less than enthusiastic. He did however, sell me a very nice tin of commemorative spam.



In any case, I was disappointed when the evening came to a close without my managing to spring an Argument on some unsuspecting person.

But then, as we were pulling out of the parking lot we saw IT! (Ahh! I've said it! Now I've said it again!!!)

A quick U-turn into the "No Parking Here" parking lot brought us to the fabled...


STAGE DOOR!


Miss-not-appearing-on-this-website was at the ready with program and marker in hand. We lurked for quite some time in the shadows outside the door, (in the cold, I might add) avoiding the watchful gaze of the traffic police, waiting to ambush the stars of the show and get autographs!

I of course, had my own S.N.I.D.E. designs...

We got to meet several members of the cast (as well as random stage crew folks) who were (mostly) more than happy to oblige us.

The fellow who played Lancelot even stopped to pose for some pictures with us when he stepped outside:


He returned a few minutes later, accompanied by a group of the chorus girls. As the girls were signing the program, I affected a really bad British accent and started up a conversation...

Me: Now, you weren't really the guy who played Lancelot, were you?
Him: Yes I was.
Me: No you weren't.
Him: Oh, yes I was.
Me (folding arms across my chest): I'm quite certain you were not.
Him: I most certainly was.
*pause*
Me: I'm sorry, will this be the five-minute argument, or the full half hour?
Him: This isn't an argument, it's a simple contradiction!
Me: No it isn't.
Him: Yes it is.
Me: No it isn't.
Him: Yes it IS.

We kept on like that until all the girls had had a chance to autograph the program...

SUCCESS!!! Public contradiction created!
It was brilliant! (The chorus girls were thoroughly confused, I might add.) He was quite a nice chap for playing along, especially what with being accosted in a dark alleyway by guy wearing a tuxedo and Hawaiian shirt. I was glad that he picked up on the skit, and didn't just think I was just some sort of escaped mental patient.

All told, a most entertaining evening.














And now,
Number 3 -- The Larch

The Larch