'Spamalot' and 'Lear' Headline Trilogy's Plays in Park in Basking Ridge

Trilogy Repertory Company, based in Basking Ridge, opens another great summer season of Bernards Township Parks and Recreation “Plays in the Park” series with with Monty Python’s musical comedy “Spamalot” on July 11 at Pleasant Valley Park in Basking Ridge.

Trilogy will continue the season with a second production starting August 1 with Shakespeare’s drama “King Lear,” in partnership with Westfield’s Troupe of Friends. All performances are free, and will begin at 8 p.m. in the outdoor amphitheater at the park off Valley Road.

“Spamalot,” directed by Trilogy principal Jaye Barre of Basking Ridge, with musical direction by Lois Buesser of Boonton and choreography by Charlene Bitzus of Basking Ridge, tells a story of medieval knights and their exciting and entertaining quests. The show opens with a historian (Mark Hewitt of Bernardsville) attempting to tell the story of King Arthur (Ken Magos of Maplewood) and his quest for the Holy Grail — as presented in Monty Python's own comic style.

“Spamalot” will be staged at the park, next to the Veterans Hospital in the Lyons section of Bernards Township, on July 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, and 20. Although admission is free, donations are gratefully accepted.

Bring own seating

However, audience members must bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. For further information, call 908-204-3003. 

Spamalot's version of the King Arthur tale segues to Finland for the energetic “Fisch Schlapping Song” and dance. Back on track, King Arthur and his servant Patsy (Drew Militano of Morristown) begin the quest by searching for men to join the Round Table.  They meet up with a mix bag of prospective knights, including the Black Knight (Bob Vaias of Basking Ridge), Sir Robin (David Rittenhouse of Stirling), Sir Lancelot (Tyler Barnick of Edison), Dennis Galahad (Mike Patierno of South Orange) and his Mother (Joanna Russell of Murray Hill), Sir Bedevere (Chris North of Dunellen) and others.

The Lady of the Lake (Christie Oakes of Boonton) and her Laker Girls (Gillian Peterson, Tahaella Rasmussen, Shannon Ludlum, Danielle McMath. Jessica Presuto, Sophie Dewil) help with the recruitment.  Finally receiving their quest from God, the King and his Knights head to Camelot, where the action continues to take several diverging and entertaining paths. The cast also includes:  Patrick Swailes, Mia Hewitt, Jessica Idell, Patricia Idell, Jason Jackson, Richard Kessler, John Lubarsky, Matt Marino, Sarah Parks, Joseph Reina, Jeff Schaub, Katie Shuster, Frank Skokan, and Emily Vaias.

“Spamalot,” with book by the comedy troupe Monty Python's Eric Idle, music by John Du Prez and Eric Idle, and lyrics by Eric Idle, opened on Broadway on March 17, 2005, and ran for 1,575 performances. It starred Hank Azaria, David Hyde Pierce, Tim Curry, and Sara Ramirez.  The show was nominated for fourteen Tony Awards, winning for Best Musical, Best Director, and Best Featured Actress.  “Spamalot” was very loosely based on the 1975 movie, “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.”

The production team includes Basking Ridge residents Lorrie Lane (producer), Marilyn Gamba (stage manager), Mariella Klinger (assistant stage manager), and Eileen McSweeney (props), while Beverly Webb will fly in from California to do Set Decoration and Costumes.

A production also with British origin — but with a totally different style — will be Shakespeare's "King Lear," scheduled for Aug. 1, 2, 3, and 4. Hank Barre, Trilogy's director of development, said he will portray Lear, as well as producing the play with the Westfield troupe. The play also will be staged in Westfield around Labor Day, Barre said.

The partnership of Trilogy Repertory and Bernards Township's Parks and Recreation Department has produced over twenty-seven years of family entertainment and achieved several awards for both groups for excellence in theater programming. Most prominent are the awards from ACT (Achievement in Community Theater) and the prestigious “Excellence in Cultural Arts Programming.”  “Spamalot” is made possible, in part, by support from New Jersey State Council on the Arts.