Eckerd’s ‘Monty Python Edukational Show’ is a hilarious fever dream

A mismatched cast, as put together as their costumes, graced the stage with ridiculous skits, one after the next, making the audience belly laugh with each line and facial expression. 

Directed by Gavin Hawk, professor of theater, “Monty Python Edukational Show” takes you on a journey through scenes from the original “Monty Python’s Flying Circus,” which the play was based on. A 15-person cast and student-led crew from this semester's theater production class, led by Visiting Assistant Professor of Theater Kyle Ransbottom, brought this show to life from Nov 2 to 5.. 

Grace Nelson, a first-year majoring in musical theater, acted in the show and helped set the props. 

“I like the first stumble through because it was very rewarding to see it all come together. The cast was really close knit too, like a family. It was such a journey, and really rewarding and satisfactory,” Nelson said. 

With how seamlessly this show was pulled off, you would have never known that the cast lost a week of rehearsals due to Hurricane Ian.

The set, which made the audience feel as though they were backstage of the Monty Python show, broke the 4th wall of the theater, bringing viewers into the show. Lines were directed at and through the audience, actors turned to the theater during punchlines and some scenes even included cast members running through the theater and interacting with audience members. Shades of blues, reds, tans and yellows brought to life all the emotions of the cast. 

Scenes ranged from actors dressed as Vikings banging on a table for “Spam Spam Spam,” to attempting to get silly walks approved at the Ministry of Silly Walks or even to trying to return a dead parrot to a pet store. In between the cast’s performances, a TV on stage showed recorded scenes from the original show.

The show opened just as good as it ended with the entire cast singing “Bright Side of Life” as they sat on the edge of the stage. For anyone close enough to notice, visible smiles and joy could be found on everyone’s faces as they closed out that night’s show. 

While the show added laughter and confusion to the audience’s night, arguably one of the best parts of this show was the audience itself. When you can make an entire audience laugh uncontrollably, some with tears streaming down their faces, you know you’re doing comedy right. 

The next show, “Children’s Letters to God” opens Thursday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. and has showings Friday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 19 at 2 p.m.

“It’s such a fun show. It’s a little surprise. It’s not about what everyone thinks it’s going to be about. It’s about how kids view the world,” Nelson said. 

For more information about upcoming shows go to www.eckerd.edu/theatre/ or email eckerdtheatre@gmail.com.