Directed by Mike Nichols. Book and lyrics by Eric Idle. Music by Idle and John Du Prez. Starring Tim Curry, David Hyde Pierce and Hank Azaria.

By David Goldman

It isn’t just Monty Python fans who’ll revel in this Arthurian send-up, the new musical 'lovingly ripped of from the motion picture Monty Python and the Holy Grail," as the ads say. Anyone with a love of the absurd, musical spoofs, and British humor should be thrilled with Spamalot, Python member Eric Idle’s new musical. While there is plenty from the film to please Python-ites (the audience at the preview I attended started applauding as soon as a familiar character came on stage), about a third of the show is new, including a real ending (the film just cut off abruptly) and about a dozen new musical numbers, including the momentous “The Song That Goes Like This,” a parody of another very famous British composer, who Lord knows is due for one. Without giving too much away, suffice to say that Curry (King Arthur), Pierce and Azaria (who not only play knights, but several other characters throughout) all get their moment to shine, and the hilarious staging and sets conjure up a mix of old-style vaudeville, demented variety show and Python madness. You won’t see a burning witch, but you will see the knights who say “ni,” a flying cow, and perhaps some other Pythons poking their noses in (pay attention to the Playbill, as well as to the Voice of God).