Patsy (Monty Python)

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Patsy as seen in Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Patsy as seen in Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Patsy is a character in the film Monty Python and The Holy Grail and the musical Spamalot. He is played by Terry Gilliam in Monty Python and The Holy Grail. Serving as King Arthur's assistant, he only has a few simple tasks throughout the entire film, such as using two halves of a coconut to simulate the hoofbeats of Arthur's nonexistent horse.[1]

He also announces King Arthur's arrival, as when Arthur's group approaches a castle claimed to be Camelot early in the movie. Patsy has only one line in the film: "It's only a model," said when the Knights of the Round Table first catch sight of the castle at Camelot.

In the 2005 musical, Spamalot, Patsy has a bigger role with many more lines, and he sings "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" from The Life of Brian to King Arthur,[2] and they later sing "I'm All Alone".[3] As in the film, Patsy follows King Arthur everywhere and bangs coconuts together to simulate Arthur's horse.[4] In the original Broadway production, he was played by Michael McGrath, who impersonated Terry Gilliam's role in the film.[5] McGrath's role in the musical was praised in reviews,[2][4][6] and he was nominated for the 2005 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Spamalot.[7][8] In the musical, Patsy is half Jewish.[9] He didn't mention this at first because "it's just not the kind of thing you say to a heavily armed Christian."

[edit] References

  1. ^ Parker, Alan, and O'Shea, Mick, 2006, And Now for Something Completely Digital: The Complete Illustrated Guide to Monty Python, The Disinformation Company, ISBN 1932857311.
  2. ^ a b Phillips, Michael, 2005-01-10, Is 'Spamalot' Digestible?, Baltimore Sun.
  3. ^ Traiger, Lisa, 2006-06-09, Killer Bunnies and Comedy in King Arthur's Court, Washington Post.
  4. ^ a b McCarter, Jeremy, 2005-03-18, And Now For Something ...Not So Very Different, The New York Sun.
  5. ^ Brustein, Robert, 2006, Millennial Stages: Essays and Reviews 2001-2005, Yale University Press, ISBN 0300115776.
  6. ^ Scheck, Frank, 2005-03-01, Monty Python's Spamalot, The Hollywood Reporter.
  7. ^ Delfiner, Rita, 2007-11-15, A Family Act, New York Post.
  8. ^ Hail 'Spamalot' Worcester Telegram & Gazette.
  9. ^ Shay, Scott A., 2007, Getting Our Groove Back: How to Energize American Jewry, ISBN 1932687858.
Creators / Actors

Graham Chapman • John Cleese • Terry Gilliam • Eric Idle • Terry Jones • Michael Palin

Other Actors

Carol Cleveland • Connie Booth • Neil Innes • John Young

Characters

King Arthur • Sir Lancelot • Sir Galahad • Sir Bedevere • Sir Robin • Knights who say Ni • Tim the Enchanter • Black Knight • Rabbit of Caerbannog • Black Beast of Aaaaarrrrrrggghhh • Patsy

Locations

Castle Stalker • Cave of Caerbannog • Doune Castle • Gorge of Eternal Peril

Miscellaneous

Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch • Spamalot • Knights of the Round Table