Finding Your Grail
Some of our culture’s most iconic stories stem from a quest for the Holy Grail, such as the Indiana Jones movies, the Da Vinci Code, and Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail.
Its legend has been commonplace in our everyday lives; we refer to a great, seemingly unattainable achievement as “the holy grail”.
However, Spamalot asks us to consider the possibility that the grail is not just a relic (much to the disappointment of my museum colleagues), but rather represents something bigger.
As Arthur says to his knights “It’s not just a missing mug, it's a metaphor.”
During rehearsals, I encouraged the cast to think of what they would consider to be their own personal holy grail, and channel that spirit while they sang “Find Your Grail.”
As the characters journey throughout the humorous world of Monty Python’s Camelot, they not only eventually find the physical grail, but also discover new things about themselves and their relationship with others.
Robin, a knight who starts off the song frightened and demure, ends the show with having his own personal grail of musical theater.
Through directing this show, both the production staff and the cast were able to witness how theater was able to bring people together in a pursuit of excellence- both in the show itself and the relationships formed.
A warning to Frenchmen:
This musical includes a beheading by a killer rabbit. No rabbits were harmed in the production of this musical.
