An unusual scenario will occur this month when two nearby theaters produce the same show. “Monty Python’s Spamalot” will be performed both at Kelsey Theater and at Playhouse 22. The 2005 Broadway production at the Shubert Theater was nominated for 14 Tony Awards and received three, including the Best Musical. It ran for more than 1,500 performances. Both productions of the musical comedy spoof of the King Arthur legend feature actors from West Windsor and Plainsboro. Take your choice or see both.
The Kelsey production by Maurer Productions OnStage will run weekends, Friday, November 15, to Sunday, December 1. West Windsor actors include Peter Bisgaier as Sir Bedevere and Paul Phalent as Prince Herbert. Plainsboro actors include Dan Slowthower as Tim the Enchanter and Scott Karlin as the Black Knight. Meanwhile Cindy Chait of West Windsor is playing the role of Lady of the Lake at Playhouse 22.
The musical comedy with book and lyrics by Eric Idle is based on the film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” The show also features numerous references to “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” television skits. There are also spoofs of “Fiddler on the Roof,” “West Side Story,” “Man of La Mancha,” “Les Miserables,” and “The Producers.”
John Maurer, raised in West Windsor, will once again slip into the director’s chair. “I’ve been a Monty Python fan from a young age,” he says. “Their brand of zany and irreverent comedy is universally appealing, but it is unique and tricky to pull off. Lucky for us and the audience, our cast brings the Python spirit to the show in every scene. Sometimes it’s hard just to get through a rehearsal because everyone is laughing so hard.”
Former West Windsor residents include Diana Gilman Maurer, stage manager, producer, and the director’s wife; and Dan Maurer, sound designer, producer, and the director’s brother.
A senior at High School South, Phalent is very happy to be in his first performance in “Spamalot” and his first show at Kelsey Theater.
“I have been a huge Monty Python fan ever since I was young,” he says. His family owns the box set of “Flying Circus” and most of their movies. “I was lucky enough to see ‘Spamalot” with the original Broadway cast. It was as hilarious then as it is now.”
When he went to the audition at Kelsey Theater, the role of Herbert was not his initial choice. “He is in an entirely different vocal range than I am,” he says. He hoped to be chosen to be ensemble or one of the baritone knights.
“Herbert ended up being what I auditioned for when I was asked to read his lines and I am quite happy I got the role,” he says. “I ended up doing one of my favorite scenes in the show.”
Born and raised in the Bronx, he has lived in West Windsor for 13 years. “While I do love it here, I’d like to see much more of the world,” he says.
His older sister, Lena, graduated from South in 2009. His younger sister, Jessica, is in seventh grade. His parents are both PhD scientists. One works primarily with stem cell biology and engineering and the other as a scientific consultant at a pharmaceutical firm. “My mother and two sisters are all musically inclined, but the older sister more so,” he says. “She is incredibly talented and has done her fair share of theater in the past.”
Phalent has taken multiple years of acting classes and practices his skills through theater programs. He is a former student of the Tomato Patch summer program at Kelsey Theater. “It is a fantastic program and I enjoyed it immensely,” he says.
At South he is playing the lead role of Josh in the Pirate Players’ production of “Bang Bang You’re Dead.” Usually involved in the spring musicals, fall dramas, and senior one acts, he takes speech and acting classes at the school. He skipped the fall drama this year in place of “Spamalot.”
He has also been part of a few choirs, mostly at church when he was younger. “I work with a vocal coach and dodge my school’s choir teacher,” he says.
Phalent plans to major in graphic design. “I like to draw or read, but school is tough and tries its best to stop me,” he says.
Born and raised in Highland Park, Chait graduated from Rutgers with a bachelor’s degree in communications and a minor in acting; and a master’s in education. She taught elementary school in Red Bank and then at a private school in New York City.
Chait, a triple threat, is proficient in acting, dancing, and singing. She has studied acting in college as well as in New York City. She has danced since she was a young child, and one of her favorite classes in New York City was dancing for singers and actors. “My main forte is singing, and I still study in New York City,” she says.
Over the years she has performed as Sarah Brown in “Guys and Dolls,” Elaine in “Arsenic and Old Lace,” Cinderella’s Mother in “Into the Woods,” Eve in “The Apple Tree,” Muriel in “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.” and in the title role of “The Drowsy Chaperone” at Kelsey Theater. Chait has also been on stage in Plays-in-the-Park in Edison, Villagers Theater in Franklin, the Mighty Oak Players in Monroe, and Off-Broadstreet Theater in Hopewell.
Her husband, David, works in finance in New York City. Her son, Josh, is in fifth grade at Village School; and daughter, Kayla, is in third grade at Dutch Neck School.
Watch out for barnyard animals, flying cows, an evil rabbit, a damsel in distress, and remember to always look on the bright side of life.
Monty Python’s Spamalot, Kelsey Theater, Mercer Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. Weekends, Friday, November 15, to Sunday, December 1. $20. 609-570-3333 or www.kelseytheater.net.
Monty Python’s Spamalot, Playhouse 22, 721 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick. Weekends, Friday, November 8, to Sunday, November 24. $22. 732-254-3939 or www.playhouse22.org.
