Stanislavsky and method acting applied to Monty Python?

Question:How can a serious method actor apply method acting to a Monty Python sketch? What is the inner conlict in the "bring out the dead" guy? How does one bring realism to Monty Python and how can one retain the fourth wall? What motivation does the man have for putting the carrot on the womans nose in the burn the witch scene?

What does the term "I like to eat the spam a lot" mean?

I may audtion for Spamalot and need to know how to seriously approch the material.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: How can a serious method actor apply method acting to a Monty Python sketch? What is the inner conlict in the "bring out the dead" guy? How does one bring realism to Monty Python and how can one retain the fourth wall? What motivation does the man have for putting the carrot on the womans nose in the burn the witch scene?

What does the term "I like to eat the spam a lot" mean?

I may audtion for Spamalot and need to know how to seriously approch the material.

Method acting is passe'. It never has been worth a darn for comedy anyway. You don't approach the material seriously, you approach it sillily.

This is beginning to sound like a Monty Python sketch, but here goes:

a. Comedy plays best when it's performed seriously.
b. The inner conflict in "bring out the dead" depends on the character. The cartman has a job to do, and he's very busy. The old geezer doesn't want to go on the cart. The young man wants to offload the geezer before he dies and smells up the house.
c. Find the realism in the scene yourself. That's your job. Musical theater is presentational--the fourth wall comes and goes.
d. The carrot is applied to make her look as if she's got a witch's long and pointy nose. (These are very dim villagers).
e. In the Python tv series, many years ago, a very famous sketch had a chorus of Vikings doing a repetitive Spam commercial at a modern diner, which, incidentally, served nothing but Spam (mostly). Hence the Spam reference in the Camelot song.
f. I suggest a refresher viewing of the film, "Monty Python and the Holy Grail", on which "Spamalot" is very loosely based, before your audition.
g. Incidentally, "I like to push the pram a lot." in the Camelot song is there because it rhymes.
h. In going to the audition, I would bear in mind the basic defenses against being attacked by someone with raspberries. A hat with the word "Lion-Tamer" in illuminated letters wouldn't hurt either.

Comedy only works when you are committed to the role no matter how ridiculous monty python were they never thought this is stupid or gave in to showing the audience how ridiculous was they maintained their commitment to the role (case point: the skit where graham chapman attempts to teach self defence with an attacker armed with various fruit; second point: terry jones beating mice with mallets at a concert to make music).

now in a case with a show like spamalot people actually want to see Monty Python not your unique interpretation so I recommend watch the holy grail religiously, you will get a strong sense of their style, now with bring out the dead guy okay your job sucks, but it pays money, you are probably paid per body, you have to walk, why not save yourself a trip and take the nearly dead right?

The motivation is your own, putting the carrot on the nose, perhaps to make her appear more like a witch, those are your choices you have to make so make a choice and commit to it.

Fourth wall: quit playing to the audience and play off of your fellow actors, react to the scenes, do not say i am going to be zany here, react to the circumstances, stop trying illustrate comedy and think about the scenes.

In my opinion comedy is significantly harder than drama because you have to be real in ridiculous situations, it is easy to be sad over a death, monty python is what i would consider advanced comedy, if you are worrying about how to apply stanislavsky to it, you might not be ready for it.

Make strong choices, stick to them and react to situations with the choices you've made.

I like to eat spam a lot means what it sounds like spam is that ugly canned meat that only the hawaiians have managed to make taste good in musubi. As for the line it is random, it rhymes with Camelot. Watch the holy grail 10,000 times, I know a lot of actors who can recite the show and do all the character voices (you've got a lot of competition).