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Spamalot actress attacks Olivier awards snub
19.02.07
Snubbed: Hannah Waddingham with Monty Python star Eric Idle
Winner: Tamsin Greig with Don Johnson
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The cast of Spamalot have launched an attack on the judges of the Olivier Awards after the Monty Python musical failed to win a single prize.
The show has been a huge hit in both the West End and Broadway and was nominated for seven Oliviers.
But Hannah Waddingham, who plays the Lady of the Lake, hit out at the judges' decision after the cast and producers walked away with nothing.
Waddingham lost out to Jenna Russell who won the best actress in a musical category for her role in Sunday in the Park with George. She said: " I don't begrudge the best actor or best actress award at all but I really do begrudge the fact we didn't win best new musical.
"I'm totally pissed off we didn't win that. I'm actually angry.
"Surely if you are nominated in seven categories there is a reason for that and at some point that should be acknowledged.
"Tom Goodman-Hill, who plays Lancelot, is a brilliant actor, but because he's in a musical he doesn't get the kudos that actors in a play would get."
The original Broadway production of Spamalot was nominated for 14 Tony awards in 2005 and won best musical, best performance by an actress in a musical and best direction of a musical.
The West End production has taken more than £7.5 million in ticket sales. Neither Eric Idle, who wrote the music and lyrics, nor Tim Curry, who plays King Arthur, were at the awards ceremony at the Grosvenor House hotel.
The show was nominated for best actor in a musical for Tim Curry, best performance in a supporting role in a musical for Goodman-Hill and best new musical. That award went to Caroline, Or Change, about the American civil rights movement.
Sir Trevor Nunn said he had enjoyed the Monty Python show but was not surprised it had missed out.
"I roared with laughter all the way through Spamalot. I thought it was utterly brilliant, but in a way Spamalot takes theatre back 1,000 years in the way that it delights in Broadway tat. Perhaps it is not that surprising that in the end something else was chosen."
Stephen Sondheim's Sunday In The Park With George won five awards, including outstanding musical production, best actress in a musical and best actor in a musical for Daniel Evans.
Green Wing actress Tamsin Greig was the surprise winner of the best actress award for her part in Much Ado About Nothing.
She said: "I am so surprised, I really felt like a Shakespearean play outsider. And the women I was up against, Kathleen Turner and Eve Best - even her name says she's the best. It was all down to the director Marianne Elliot - she always just wants the truth, not gags."
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Reader views (5)
Rufus Sewell won. Enough said.
- Ruth, Hampton, UK
Very gracious of her not to begrudge the best actor and actress award. How tacky to have a hissy fit because the show didn't win. Whatever happened to the honour of being nominated?
Spamalot is a very fun show, but the winners were extremely deserving. I had a huge amount of time for the very talented Ms Waddingham. Not any more.
- Lucy, London
Spamalot is terrible - a trite, pale immitation of an old film which is utterly pointless.
All the Python stuff you know and have to sit through people doing impressions of old comedy routines. Dull.
All the new stuff is boring and badly written and has been done 100 times better in The Simpsons, Family Guy, South Park, et al.
Giving this any awards at all woulod be a travesty when there is so much better stuff going on.
- Butch, London, UK
The whole awards industry is a sham and needs ditching in my opinion.
I mean, the most boring thing, next to a gathering of smug, opinionated authors, are gaggles of lovies and their PR spongers, doing it up each others backs, often to loud music and extremely bad jokes.
And Spamalot? Obviously the best show in town, thus nil awards - get my point?
- Ted, Shetland Isles
I have to agree with her to an extent, Spamalot is a great musical and a great peice of theatre. Hannah Waddingham herself is the best thing in it but having not seen all of the other productions which were shortlisted maybe they were all more deserving.
- Lloyd, London
