28th February 2007
Monty Python musical Spamalot, "lovingly ripped off" from the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, won two of this year's Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers' Choice Awards, both in performance categories. Tim Curry as King Arthur – who originated the role on Broadway and reprised his performance at the West End's Palace Theatre – won Best Actor in a Musical, and Tom Goodman-Hill was voted Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for his turn as Lancelot.
Goodman-Hill, in fact, made his musical debut in the role, and was thrilled when What's on Stage Magazine's editor, Roger Foss, turned up to present him with his prize.
WHAT GOODMAN-HILL SAID:
"I have never received an award in my entire career and Spamalot is my first musical as well, so for me to receive this accolade is a double whammy. To be voted for by the people who actually come and see what you do makes it even more special. So thanks everyone. What a surprise! I really didn't think I would get it. In fact, I can't quite believe it's happened."
WHAT CURRY SAID:
"A huge thanks to the readers of Whatsonstage.com for voting me Best Actor in a Musical. It is particularly encouraging because all of you who have voted are theatre geeks – in other words, people who have a genuine and ongoing, not to say obsessive, interest in the theatre itself, as I do. Phyllida Law (mother of Emma Thompson) came to see Spamalot and said that she had not seen an audience welcome an actor back home like that since Robert Donat came home after the war. I certainly felt highly blessed that you hadn't forgotten me. I hope that this means I am allowed to come back again, because it is you that matters. Thank you. I am sooooo chuffed!"
