All this week the New Theatre hosts the latest tour of Spamalot – the stage adaptation (or, officially, ‘rip-off’) of one of the world’s most classic comedy films: Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Written mainly by Python veteran Eric Idle, the show combines the most well-loved parts of the film with other nuggets from the ‘Flying Circus’ – as well as new material – to give us a take on the knights of the round table that is more irreverent than ever.

The first act starts out very familiar – coconuts banged together used in place of horses (the original film had a budget of a mere £229,000), and anarcho-syndicalist peasants opposing the self-perpetuating autocracy of the so-called king. Gradually, the musical takes on more of a life of it’s own, playfully spoofing the pathos and flamboyancy inherent to that genre – particularly through the prominent role of the Lady of the Lake (Sarah Earnshaw).

Many scenes from the original film are recreated very faithfully to great effect – Will Hawksworth’s ‘brave’ Sir Robin and his minstrels being a particularly brilliant example, which gave this reviewer one of his greatest laughs of the evening. And yet, it is the new material that really strings the musical together and – especially in the second act – accumulate the laughs to make this show rival its source in hilarity.

The show also sees King Arthur’s servant Patsy take on a more prominent speaking role, here played eminently by Todd Carty. But the throbbing heart of the show, providing visual vibrancy throughout, is the dance routines choreographed by Jenny Arnold and performed by the supporting cast.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail was a timeless masterpiece, which has – by now – amused multiple generations. Spamalot isn’t, probably won’t, and doesn’t need to – it’s timely, satirical, and adaptable to changing audiences. It lampoons the need for celebrities in a musical – its own King Arthur being a case in point. Played by Joe Pasquale, he provides much of the fresh spontaneity of the show, with a confidence that isn’t intimidated by the original film.

Don’t come expecting a word-to-word rendition of the Holy Grail – stay home and watch the DVD instead. The lines of the original could hardly be delivered more perfectly than they were. But for hard-core fans of the Pythons, Spamalot is a must and a revelation, and at the same time a very approachable place to begin for newcomers to that sometimes mystifying Oxbridge comedy troupe. Playing in the New Theatre until Saturday.