STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

It has a Fisch Schlapping dance presumed to be from Finland, corpses that burst out in song and cheerleaders who hold themselves forth as the Lady of the Lake’s Laker Girls.

And that’s why it’s “Spamalot” and not “Camelot.”

St. Thomas Playhouse is presenting its take on the 2005 Broadway production that won three Tony Awards, including Best Musical, tonight through Saturday, July 26. “Monty Python’s “Spamalot Young@Part!” starts at 7 p.m. and tickets are on sale at https://ci.ovationtix.com/35974/production/1246433.

Those lucky enough to see it will be privy to chuckles found in the details, including a big fish right off the bat, clever word play and physical humor that borders on slapstick.

“For my money, what makes ‘Spamalot’ such a successful and worthwhile production is its fusion of those unmistakably zany characters from the original Monty Python catalog with supremely impressive musical theater numbers and performances,” said Director Justin Packard. “To have showstopping choreography and tight three-part harmonies performed by the Knights of the Round Table and the Knights who say Ni is quite a treat for our contemporary audience.  We think it’s a night of nonstop fun and laughs.”

The 60-minute show features Niko Smith, who is perfect as an erstwhile King Arthur, who sets out to find the Holy Grail, only to become immersed in a quest to put on the first-ever Broadway-type musical.

Wyatt Root is show-stopping as Patsy, King Arthur’s servant, as he tries to make Arthur and everyone else realize that Arthur is not alone as he declares himself to be. Trixie Kimmel offers a strong performance singing the show’s haunting ballads as Lady of the Lake.

Jack Cohen gets things kicking with his nerdy historian’s introduction: “England, 932 AD. A kingdom divided. … In the kingdoms of Wessex, Sussex, Essex and Kent, plague. In Mercia, and the two Anglias, plague with a 50 percent chance of pestilence and famine coming out of the Northeast at 12 miles per hour…”

And Ida Belle Gorby actually does serve up some high physical kicks.

“With a comedy, I love to see how many ‘bits’ I can work into the choreography itself,” said Choreographer Megan Mahoney. “The genre is primarily rooted in musical theater but with flashes of jazz, soft shoe, and numerous nods to pop culture. This play is challenging for many of our students simply because of the gargantuan task that many of them are onstage the majority of the show. A lot of them have never danced at this level, and so the speed at which we are learning choreography can be challenging, but they are absolutely taking it in stride and working so hard to master it all.”

Much of the music will be recognized by anyone who has seen “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” although there was music added for the adaptation into a staged musical, said Music director John Mauldin. It includes the very familiar “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.”

“The musical is typical Monty Python, full of parody, wit and wonderful melodies that will stick in your head for days!” said Mauldin. “What's wonderful about working with these kids is that they were very open to anything I asked of them and willing to try anything! Some needed pitch help...some needed help relieving tension...most just needed to be given the permission or confidence to go for it.”

The most incredible thing was how much the young singers learned in a condensed rehearsal period, Mauldin added.

“Normally we would work the music for a week before putting a foot on stage.  With just 10 days of rehearsal versus the typical three to six weeks in the professional word, and even more for most amateur productions, what they’ve accomplish is amazing!  It's a small, but mighty cast that I feel privileged to have worked with.”

The cast:

Arthur, Niko Smith; Patsy, Wyatt Root; Lady of the Lake/Lady of the Lounge, Trixie Kimmel; Robin/Dead Collector, Thomas Roberts; Dennis/Galahad, Van Flandro; Lance/Ni Knight, Hiram Johnson, and Historian/Bors, Jack Cohen

Also, Bedevere/Laker Girl, Makena Seitz; Not Dead Fred/Brave Sir Robin/Laker Girl, Ida Belle Gorby; Fish Basket Maiden/Mother/French Taunter , Alexa Fowler; Mayor/French Taunters/Ni Knight/Knight Not Appearing in the Play, Henry Kelso; Guard/Laker Girl/Brother Maynard, Caroline South.

The creative team: Director Justin Packard, Music Director John Mauldin, Choreographer and Lighting Designer Megan Mahoney, Technical and Sound Director Tyler Salvoni, Lighting Operator Brett Moellenberg, Costume Designer Annabel Webster, Set/Prop Designer Sara Gorby.