As we reported in our article Spamalot announces new King Arthur on 3rd of June, TV star Sanjeev Bhaskar is to take over as the new lead in the popular Monty Python musical. Speaking to the Stage this week, Sanjeev admits “I’ve never really thought of myself as a stage musical kind of person.” But then insists that he took on the role “because I wanted to learn something and to make myself try a little harder.”
Famous for his comic turns on both Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumars at no. 42, Bhaskar has become somewhat of a national treasure… but singing and dancing? Now, if you were going to have me pinned down and force-fed some kind of truth serum, I’d have to admit to being just a little bit surprised to hear Bhaskar’s name linked with the popular musical. In fact I can remember my reaction rather vividly:

NATHAN: (confused) Bhaskar? The chap off the Kumars??…

EVERYONE ELSE: Yes.

NATHAN: (intense confusion) In a musical??? The Monty Python musical? Are you sure?

EVERYONE ELSE: Yes.

NATHAN: (pause) Hmm… What a brilliant idea!

I mean think about it, Bhaskar as the King of the Britons in a silly little musical by the Python bunch. It just works doesn’t it? Bhaskar has often gone on record about his love for the anarchic comic troupe. “Quoting Python sketches” he added last week, “was one of the things that bonded us together when we were all working on Goodness Gracious Me.” I love it when a plan comes together.

In keeping with Bhaskar’s own humour, his knack of focussing on everyday family and community tensions and then undercutting them with a healthy dose of pure straight silliness, Spamalot seems like the perfect avenue for his already glittering career. Respected comedian, author, documentary maker and all round good egg, Bhaskar as the King of the Britons sounds like a super idea too hilarious to be missed. We’re booking our seats right now!

What do you think? Reckon Bhaskar can pull in the crowds in for the final summer leg of this popular West End musical? Leave us your comment and let us know what you think.

Technorati Tags: bhaskar, goodness gracious me, in the west end, king arthur, kumars at 42, monty python, python, sanjeev bhaskar, spamalot, spamalot the musical, the kumars, west end, west end musicals

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This entry was posted on Thursday, June 19th, 2008 at 1:19 pm and is filed under Theatre. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.