I truly believe that the one thing I missed more than anything throughout the last year and half was attending live theater! That wait finally came to an end this week at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Ogunquit, Maine. I’ve written about Ogunquit before. After all it’s undoubtedly my favorite town in all of New England. Just to recap, Ogunquit is a beautiful little town on the southern coast of Maine about 30 south of Portland. The town boasts quaint shops, local restaurants, plenty of places to stay, and a beautiful mile long coastal walkway called the marginal way. If that weren’t enough, the town boasts one of the last summer stock theaters of the east coast. The summer season includes Broadway shows with equity stage, television, and film actors.

Like so many shows, Spamalot is one that I’ve known for years but never seen performed. It’s the stage musical version of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. First seen on Broadway in the early 2000s the show boasted a stellar cast including Tim Curry, David Hyde Pierce, Hank Azaria, and Sara Ramirez.

This year’s season is different due to the pandemic. Instead of utilizing the playhouse, a large tent was set up on the side of the property and folding chairs were placed in pods that were socially distanced. Masks were required everywhere except when seated. I really appreciated these efforts as it made the season possible.

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The show was as funny as I’d hoped it would be. Charles Shaughnessy, Mr. Sheffield from The Nanny, played a great King Arthur. The rest of the cast played multiple roles and were very adept at the zaniness of Python humor. While the sound was certainly loud enough, it often was difficult to distinguish some of the intricate dialogue. Still, the cast performed well under the circumstances.

I’m not opposed to outdoor theater productions. We attended many great shows at Kansas City’s Starlight Theater. That being said, I would not want them to continue in this venue longer than necessary. Still, I’m so glad that theater is back, whether in a tent or in a playhouse, this New Englander is thrilled to be in the audience looking at the bright side of life!

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