Students perform last theatre production to be held in high school’s auditorium

By Holly Miyasaki - Penticton Western News - May 09, 2008

NewS.102.20080508170731.PenHimontypython_20080509.jpg

A comedy classic is being brought to the stage for the first time, and it’s happening in Penticton.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail has been rewritten for the stage by Pen High drama teacher Megan Rutherford.

“I spent two months studying the screenplay and writing it into stage format,” she explained.

After some consideration, the students and faculty collaborated to decide what piece to put on for their last performance in the school’s auditorium.

“There are 39 actors and it’s a very interesting style of performance utilizing every entrance and exit in the Pen High auditorium,” she said.

The film is a farce based around the medieval times and King Arthur’s search for the Holy Grail. Other characters from history that appear in the film include Sir Galahad the pure, Sir Lancelot the brave and Sir Robin the not-quite-so-brave-as-Sir-Lancelot.

Written by British comedy troupe Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones and Michael Palin, this film was the group’s first film attempt after seeing much success with their Monty Python’s Flying Circus comedy sketch show.

“We certainly wanted it to be a multigenerational comedy and as it debuted in 1975 — that is my era and the parents of my students ...” explained Rutherford. “We were all watching Monty Python ... this was their first movie ... and I think, personally, it’s their best.”

Just because their parents are fans of the show doesn’t mean today’s Pen High students consider it uncool.

“I think most of their parents are as excited as the kids are about the show,” she said.

It was nominated for the 1976 Hugo award for best dramatic presentation. In 2001 it was nominated by the DVD Exclusive Awards for video premier award.The proof it had made it as a comedy was in the longevity of The Holy Grail’s popularity through the generations. While students can perform from the comfort of their school, the actors in the original didn’t have the same luxuries. It is reported that the actors dealt with constant rain, chain mail that soaked it up, low-quality hotels which couldn’t offer enough water for everyone to bathe daily. The Pythons also started bickering between themselves. At last, the movie was released in 1975 to immense popularity.

According to , the film grossed $1.6 million on its first release; its budget was just $400,000.

And this isn’t the school’s first taste of Monty Python. They’ve performed a number of Fawlty Towers (another Cleese television series) dinner theatres to the delight of many theatregoers.

Those familiar with the film will be pleased to see PHAME productions working hard to reproduce its physical comedy.

The normally 700-seat auditorium will be reduced to 450 — the front seats are reserved for the throwing of “livestock” and the “killer” rabbit will be making an appearance as well.

“It’s great when the kids go home from rehearsal and are able to talk over the dinner table about the design of scenes and the approach of cinematography — like the rabbit, how do they reproduce it?” she said.

Those new to Monty Python will either “hate it or love it,” according to Rutherford.

“People unfamiliar with Python, and I can’t imagine there are very many of them, might want to check what they’re getting into before they attend.”

Pen High’s production of Monty Python and the Holy Grail starts Wednesday and runs through to May 17. It resumes May 28-31, ending with a one-night-only gourmet banquet dinner theatre.

Email | Print | Letter to Editor | Share on Facebook

Students perform last theatre production to be held in high school’s auditorium

Most read in your Region

Most read across BC