MTG’s Spamalot earns the holy grail of sell-out shows
THE holy grail of sell-out shows and glowing feedback was reached by dozens of local actors, musicians and stage crew last week, as Music Theatre Guernsey’s production of Spamalot took over the Princess Royal Centre for Performing Arts.
Of the six shows, the first three were almost sold out and the last three did sell out, with ‘standing room- only’ tickets for the last show because so many people turned up hoping for returns.
‘It was the best show we have done in recent years. The joy within the script, the cast oozing with passion, all radiated to the audience,’ said the show's director Darren Alderton.
Reviews were unanimous in their praise for cast and crew, with even the Lt-Governor writing to Mr Alderton, saying that ‘he hadn’t laughed so much in ages’, and ‘it was clear the audience were having as much fun as the cast’.
Mr Alderton, who is also MTG’s founder, said the letter had come as a complete surprise.
‘He came off his own back to watch with his family. It is great to get that recognition of what we do.’
The show was one of the biggest and most complex that Music Theatre Guernsey has ever taken on.
‘We have had bigger casts before,’ said Mr Alderton, ‘but with the band and backstage there was just shy of 80 people involved.’
It was also the most expensive show MTG has ever put on, but with the sell-outs it allowed the group to break even.
MTG had to vacate the Arts Centre by midnight and did so at 11.50pm, with the set entirely cleared and 200-plus costumes and all props removed.
The next MTG production, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, is being performed at the Victorian Walled Gardens at Saumarez Park from 11-15 July.
Tickets and more information at www.mtgsy.gg
