Cast rehearse for Monty Python's Spamalot on Monday, April 18. There are eight performances at the Medicine Hat Musical Theatre playhouse from April 22 to May 7. (Photo Courtesy Derek Brade)

By Chris Brown

Two years later

Déjà vu: Medicine Hat Musical Theatre finally presenting Spamalot after 2020 pandemic cancellation

Apr 19, 2022 | 4:57 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – In 2020 Medicine Hat Musical Theatre was weeks away from the curtain rising on “Monty Python’s Spamalot.” COVID-19 struck the world and the show was cancelled.

Two years later they’re back and ready to take you back 1,000 years to the time of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.

For those that have returned for the 2022 edition, such as director Dave Cannon, opening night will complete a long journey.

“Definitely a sense of déjà vu and this week now definitely a sense of finality of we finally get to bring the show to Medicine Hat which I’m really excited about,” he says.

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In 2020, Cannon and the rest of the team decided to shut down the show one week before all theatres in the province were shuttered due to provincial health measures.

He says this has been an emotional week at the playhouse and to see what the cast has brought to their performances is beyond his expectations.

“The costumes the dancing the singing the lights. Everything put together it’s a fantastic show it’s a fun show,” Cannon says. “This cast have really done me proud and themselves proud bringing it to the stage.”

The entire production team from 2020 is back and six of the 24 cast members are returnees, which Cannon says helped get things flowing quickly.

Shelby Hope was a Laker girl back then and returns in the same role. She says it was a long wait and is eager for the curtain to rise.

She’s been having flashbacks during rehearsal.

“When we would go through the choreography and go through the setting and stuff I would be like ‘oh right we did this two years ago.’ And so it was really easy to get back into it,” she says.

Hope admits there have been some nervous thoughts the past few weeks.

“Last time we shut down so close to it that it was super disappointing and this time it’s almost that moment of is this going to happen? Is everything going to come crashing down on our heads?” she says. “But now that it’s here I don’t think so and I’m really excited.”

Jared Brake is one of the 18 new cast members. He is in the lead role of King Arthur.

His schedule didn’t allow him to be in the 2020 cast and says it was a no-brainer when auditions happened this time.

He is full of praise for the returnees and the newcomers.

“It’s pretty well known that in Medicine Hat there’s really good talent and it’s not short on it here. It’s a really good vocal group, it’s a really expressive acting group and the shows put together really well.”

As a Monty Python fan Brake enjoys the witty humour but adds even people who aren’t fans will enjoy the show.

“Even if you’re not so much of a Monty Python fan or you haven’t seen any of those movies, there’s still a lot you can relate to in the show there’s a lot of crazy unpredictable things that happen,” he says.

Unpredictable in the show, not in real life this time around.

Hope sums up the feelings around the playhouse this week

“Yes, let’s go.”

There are eight performances between April 22 and May 7, and tickets are about 90 per cent sold out. Visit mhmtheate.com for tickets and more information.