BWW Reviews: Beloved Musical, MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT, Opens Brief Run at Orpheum

We Minnesotans love our connections to pop culture and celebrity. Whether it's "Minnesota's own" Josh Hartnett, Coen Brothers or Lindsay Vonn, we embrace anyone or anything that we can tie directly back to our beloved homeland. So people of the Twin Cities are sure to delight in Monty Python's Spamalot, back to taunt Minneapolis for a second time at the Orpheum Theatre in a limited engagement: we can lay claim to Minneapolis-born Terry Gilliam, a member of Monty Python's troupe and writer/director of the 1975 film classic, which this musical comedy is lovingly ripped off from, "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." And the other uber-obvious connection: everyone's favorite manufactured meat product, SPAM, hailing from our neighbors to the south, Austin, Minn.

But don't let that last fact stop you from checking out this tale of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table as they embark on their quest for the Holy Grail on this "side-trip" to our fair city for only three performances on Friday and Saturday, March 15-16. Single tickets are still on sale but don't delay or you'll miss the chorus line of dancing divas, knights in tights, flatulent Frenchman and killer rabbits. Winner of the 2005 Tony Award for Best Musical, there's one more great connection to point out: the choreographer, Casey Nicholaw, is also known for his work on The Book of Mormon, one of the most popular shows presented by the Hennepin Theatre Trust with sell-out performances last month - obviously, us Minnesotans loved that one, with or without a connection! This show is just as comical, if not quite as irreverent.

Monty Python's Spamalot is presented by Hennepin Theatre Trust. Tickets start at $34 (subject to change) depending on performance time and seating preference. Tickets may be purchased in person at the State Theatre Box Office (805 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, no service fees), online at HennepinTheatreTrust.org or through Ticketmaster by calling 1.800.982.2787 or visiting a Ticketmaster Ticket Center. All prices include applicable facility fees. Additional charges may apply. Performance dates and times for Monty Python's Spamalot are Friday, March 15 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, March 16 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.