Archive for October 2013

Michael Palin

For the Spamalot cocktails, I thought I would focus on the Pythons themselves, not on the show necessarily, drawing from their work both within and outside the troupe. That would give me six cocktails and wealth of sources to draw from. And I started with the “It’s…” Man himself.

michaelPalin

Michael Palin

  • 1.5 oz. Irish whiskey
  • 1.5 oz. Amontillado sherry
  • 0.5 oz. Sugar Maple liqueur
  • pinch of Himalayan salt

I started with an Irish whiskey base (Jameson’s 12) as Mr. Palin has some Irish roots which he explored in some of his travel series. I also wanted something for his Catholic father from Meaning of Life, and thought an Irish whiskey could be fitting. To this I added some Spanish sherry, which might be unexpected …but “No one expects the Spanish inquisition!” For sweetness, in came the Sugar Maple liqueur, I am sure a favorite of lumberjacks everywhere, and I finished up with pink Himalayan salt, an additional nod to Mr. Palin’s travelogues, one of which was a trip through the Himalayas.

Now must be off. My brain hurts!

Monty Python’s Spamalot

Earlier this year I got to act through some of my favorite movie comedy scenes, reset on the musical stage, in Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein. “Put the candle back!” It was a geek’s dream.

What experience could follow that up, and maybe even top it? How about a turn as King Arthur in Monty Python’s Spamalot, performing some of the funniest sketch comedy (masquerading as a plot) that has ever been written?

Well, OK.

toddyard_kingarthur

This went from geek dream to full on geekgasm (can I say it “took it to 11,” in the hopes a This is Spinal Tap musical might appear in the near future and complete a personal trilogy?).

And lo, there would be drinks. And there was much rejoicing.