Sir Robin to the Rescue
By Chris Carpenter
It has been four years since the knights, knaves and ladies of “Monty Python’s Spamalot” stormed Broadway and won a Tony Award for Best Musical. Ordinarily, it only takes a couple of years for Broadway musicals to make it to California, but the producers of this comical extravaganza first took the show to Las Vegas and, in the process, prohibited it from being performed on the West Coast. Thankfully, the embargo has been lifted and beginning July 7 the show comes tot the Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles for a two-month engagement.
This spoof of all things King Arthurian — not to mention more contemporary concerns like same-sex relationships, military crusades in foreign lands and Britney Spears — stars John O’Hurley of Seinfeld fame as King Arthur and James Beaman as Sir Robin, a role previously played by David Hyde Pierce. In the show, Robin becomes renown for slaying “the vicious Chicken of Bristol,” as well as for his sage advice to King Arthur: “We won’t succeed on Broadway if we don’t have any Jews.”
Beaman recently spoke with Blade from San Francisco, where “Spamalot” made its West Coast premiere. Beaman has been playing Sir Robin for 18 months — and loves it. The openly gay actor grew up with Monty Python, thanks to his older brother, who was “a huge fan,” he said.
“I enjoy the fact that audiences, no matter how they start with us, are having a ball at the end of the show,” Beaman said. “It’s an infectious, joyful show — a big party.”
Beaman added that the L.A. production of “Spamalot” is the fully orchestrated, original New York production, not the truncated, 90-minute version that played in Las Vegas.
“It’s everything you want in a Broadway musical,” he said. “It pokes fun but also has all the spectacle, dancing and more that one expects of a big Broadway musical.”
British comedy troupe Monty Python has long tickled funny bones its 1970s television series and subsequent hit movies such as Monty Python and the Holy Grail (the direct inspiration for “Spamalot”), Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life. Original member Eric Idle is the author and lyricist of the stage production.
“The musical is an interesting hybrid,” Beaman averred. “The characters and tone are very authentic to Monty Python, but the show is also a tribute to musicals in general.”
Beaman said he admires Monty Python for its “pre-political correctness” brand of comedy. He finds this attitude especially applicable to the LGBT community.
One song in the musical, “Find Your Grail,” stands out for Beaman. “People in our community have to work a little bit harder to get what we want in this life,” he said. “‘Find Your Grail’” is arguably the one serious song in the entire show [that] encourages LGBT audience members in our own quest for acceptance and justice.”
Beaman began his career as a cabaret performer in New York City. He impersonated Lauren Bacall in his 1993 show “Bacall: By Herself” and garnered enormous acclaim a few years later as Marlene Dietrich. In between, he starred in the original cast of the late Howard Crabtree’s gay revue “Whoop-de-Doo!” He also created and starred in “Crazy World,” an award-winning 2002 production showcasing the songs of composer Leslie Bricusse (“Stop the World, I Want to Get Off,” Doctor Dolittle and Victor/Victoria).
Beaman’s uncertain if he’ll be hanging up his “cabaret” hat for good. “I certainly won’t be doing my impersonations again,” he said. “It was almost accidental that I began doing them. I have no regrets and am a big fan of cabaret. In New York, it’s still the best way for someone starting out to get some notice.”
Prior to joining “Spamalot,” Beaman starred with Maxwell Caulfield (Grease 2, The Colbys) in a production of the seminal gay musical “La Cage aux Folles” at the Ogunquit Playhouse. “[Caulfield] is just a lovely, charming and wonderful man to work with,” Beaman said of his former co-star.
Beaman stressed that an LGBT actor has to make a choice about whether to be out or closeted. “Even in today’s world, there’s a lot of pressure to put your sexuality in the backseat,” he said “There’s more freedom to come out, but there is still a question of how important your identity is to you in the business: What role does your sexual identity play in your day-to-day work?
“[Richard Chamberlain] told me, ‘If I had been out, I wouldn’t have worked,’” Beaman continued. “The biggest weight in this business is how great your expectations are. You aren’t always going to get your back patted or the encouragement you need.”
When he isn’t performing, the single Beaman also works as a certified Pilates instructor in New York City. Until then, he’ll be busy generating uproarious laughter as the “brave” Sir Robin.
For more information or to purchase tickets: www.centertheatregroup.org.