The inimitable Monty Python star Eric Idle has found himself at loggerheads with some heavyweight Broadway producers.
The row centres of his plans to bring the legendary 1975 comedy The Quest For The Holy Grail to the stage. It seems another company, which is working on a production of Lerner & Lowe's Camelot, is rather upset over the comic's plans to call his comedy "Spamalot".
An attorney has contacted Eric and asked him to change the name of his show. "I was disappointed to learn of the possibility that it might be called Spamalot" wrote the lawyer.
"It is anticipated that there will be a Broadway production of Lerner and Loewe's Camelot opening in the same season as the anticipated Spamalot, and the presence of these two shows together, we believe, can only lead to confusion in the minds of the public. Since Lerner and Loewe's Camelot has been in existence since 1961, we suggest that you consider changing the title of your musical."
Eric has not hesitated to unsheathe his sword and declare "none shall pass!", however. "Surely only an idiot could confuse "Camelot" with "Spamalot", he says. "But idiots are how lawyers make their money."
And it appears the other Knights of the Holy Grail are ready to defend their old pal. "We all had to give our permission but nobody minded," said Terry Jones, who played Sir Bedevere. "Eric sent us a CD with some songs and they're all good – one's great. If it works well in America, I'm sure he'll bring it over here."
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
