‘Spamalot’ playing now at Playhouse Merced

The dreaded Black Knight, a rude Frenchman and a seemingly harmless rabbit, among many others, fill the cast of a show running at Playhouse Merced this month.

Monty Python’s “Spamalot” is a musical comedy inspired by the 1975 film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” an irreverent parody of the legend of King Arthur. The show runs this weekend and next.

The story has the cast eating canned meat while running into all sorts of characters from the film, such as “Not Dead” Fred, a cow shot from a catapult, the knights who say “Ni,” Tim the Enchanter and others.

The musical features over-the-top song and dance from King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table as they conduct a quest to find the Holy Grail.

“Spamalot” is directed by Rob Hypes, musically directed by Darrel Lingenfelter, choreographed by Corey Strauss and Noelle Chandler, and stars Ryan Dziadosz as King Arthur, Sara Sweatt as Lady of the Lake, Sergio Lopez as Patsy, RC Essig as Lancelot, Corey Strauss as Sir Robin, and many other players in the large cast of characters.

Tickets are on sale now for Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. for this weekend and Memorial Day weekend.

Tickets are available online at the Playhouse Merced Facebook page, facebook.com/PlayhouseMerced.

Tickets can also be purchased by calling (209) 725-8587, or visiting the box office at 452 West Main St. in downtown Merced. The show is rated “M,” for adults.

Monty Python’s “Spamalot” celebrates Playhouse Merced’s 21st season in its downtown theater location.

For more information, go to www.playhousemerced.com.

This story was originally published May 13, 2015 at 11:39 AM with the headline "‘Spamalot’ playing now at Playhouse Merced."