The Penn State Thespians did not disappoint Thursday evening with their production of “Spamalot.” Though this was the first show I’ve attended since I saw them put on Chicago in 2013, I was delighted to be back in Schwab Auditorium.

As I sat in Schwab waiting for the seats to fill and the curtain to rise, I was listening to the pit orchestra warm up. From that moment on, I was impressed by the music throughout the entire show. Led by junior Sarah Shulbank-Smith, the pit sounded and looked great.

Once the curtain went up and the cast took the stage, it was nothing but laughter and entertainment. King Arthur, played by Adam Murray, and Lady of the Lake, played by Katelyn Waltimyer, were a bucket full of laughs. On her first entrance, Lady of the Lake came out as a basic with her venti Starbucks. My favorite character by far was Sir Lancelot played by Adam Hunter.

The choreography, by Taylor Capozzoli and Devon Fields, was impeccable. Though there were some timing problems, it was greatly improved since the last Penn State Thespians show I saw. The group must be recruiting dancers or something, because this was above and beyond what I expected.

Everything behind the scenes was smooth and seemed to have worked cohesively.  The set was simple but extremely versatile, as it allowed the cast to show different settings with ease and definitely contributed a lot to the entire work. The lighting and sound were also on point. There was a moment or two when a minor character could not be heard, but that is to be expected when so many people and microphones are being used.

The crowd seemed to really respond to the show. They gave the cast a standing ovation following the final scene, and all the comments I overheard in the lobby after were positive.

Overall, the Thespians continued their traditions of quality shows. I would give them an A+ for this production. I look forward to returning to Schwab Auditorium to see what what the Thespians have up their sleeves next semester.

If you still want to see the Thespians perform their rendition of “Spamalot,” it isn’t too late. Check out our preview of the show for more information on when you can give it a watch over the next two days.