“Monty Python’s Edukational Show” was performed for audiences Nov. 7-8 and received much attention from both Monty Python lovers and comedy fans.
“Monty Python’s Edukational Show” featured a series of sketches from the 70s show “Monty Python’s Flying Circus.”
Actors within the show played multiple roles, so actors had costume changes in order to fit their next scene. The set itself was simple and established a clear setting. Each prop held a purpose within the sketches they were in. All scenes were unique in their own way and provided something new each time a different one was performed. The actors themselves overexaggerated everything exactly the way that the actors in the original Monty Python show did.
Costume changes for actors can be difficult in the long run, especially if an actor has a lot of costume changes in a show and only a small amount of time to do so depending on when their next scene is. All the actors executed their outfit changes perfectly, as there were no noticeable mistakes in any costume or any evidence of issues with the costumes they wore. Speaking of costumes, they all looked perfect for their scenes. Nothing seemed out of place for what the actors were wearing in each scene. I could see the effort put into the costumes and I could tell that each outfit was chosen carefully.
The set itself, though simple, was effective in keeping the audience, including me, engaged within the viewing of the play. Some sketches only required a table and chairs, another only required something to stand or sit behind to act as a counter of some sort, and some of them only required the actors. Some required a few to no props, while some, especially the “Galaxy Song”, required many. All props had their purpose. The scissors for the barber, the planets and stars for the galaxy, the cushions and rack for the Spanish Inquisition and all other props used by the actors they were intended for. The large TV in the middle of the stage was there the entire time and served its usage for almost every sketch. Actors would go in and out of the TV, or they would start the scene off inside the TV.
Every sketch was different which prevented anything repetitive. Each and every scene was able to make at least someone in the audience laugh, and there were a lot of people who laughed at each one in the play. I laughed at a lot of scenes both of the times I went to watch. Each one had something new to laugh about, whether it was a character or the situation in which they were in.
My favorite scene was the Spanish Inquisition. The silly voices they created and the exaggerated old English they spoke meshed together so well. The best part of the Spanish Inquisition, that made it my favorite, was how they turned their failure to say the right lines and their irritation of not being perfect with everything to something I can’t help but laugh at every time.
The acting itself was exaggerated perfectly for their characters within this comedy; the scream in the restaurant scene when the manager fake stabbed himself with a fork and fell to the ground, the laughing from the Spanish Inquisition, the anger shown from the waitress in the “Spam Song.” The emotions in every sketch were exaggerated to a tee. Their ability to play each character was impressive too. The British accents sounded quite good, and they were able to remember their lines. No mistakes were noticeable within saying their lines, or any problems with remembering them. The actors all knew what line to say, whether it was in response to something or to start a conversation.
For the experience I had, I was fully immersed and laughing. It was very comedic for me and I enjoyed watching it the whole way through for both times I saw it. It was very much worth the price, and my mood was uplifted a lot by the time the play ended. The photos of the play will serve as lasting memories as audiences remember this play.
