The Phantom of the Opera is coming to the Bristol Hippodrome next month. When ‘the phantom’ appeared on stage last night, he was shot. Susan Boyle will also be coming to Bristol soon in a musical of her life. Her lookalike too was shot in a sequence which summed up Spamalot. Here was a musical which didn’t take itself or other musicals seriously.

When Bonnie Langford as The Lady of the Lake (right) appeared in front of the curtain in the second half to perform a solo number, it was to lament that she hadn’t been seen on stage for some time.

Tongue in cheek of course, but her character had a point; for despite comedian Marcus Brigstocke’s best efforts as King Arthur, former child star, Dr Who companion and 2006 Dancing on Ice champion Langford was the star of the show. She is obviously a superb show-off and this role which saw her effortlessly switching singing styles, from opera to pop to country, was perfect for her.

Spamalot, “lovingly ripped off from Monty Python and the Holy Grail”, is written by Eric Idle (who made a guest appearance on video as God) and John Du Prez.

It is loosely based on the story of the Knights of the Round Table, but is also one in which there are dancing Finns, farting Frenchman and killer bunny rabbits.

It is very funny, with Brigstocke’s improvisations adding to the humour, although his joke about Samantha Brick fell fairly flat yesterday evening and he sailed close to the wind with a comment about Bristol’s Justin Lee Collin’s impending court case.

The humour comes thick and fast on a simple set which paints St Pancras railway station as a grand castle and has a wind turbine in medieval England.

A fine comedy turn came from Todd Carty, best known for playing Tucker in Grange Hill and Mark Fowler in EastEnders, as King Arthur’s faithful manservant, with a particular skill of playing the coconuts to simulate his master’s horse.

The Tenacious D of musicals, Spamalot is the best fun you will have in the Hippodrome all year. Just don’t tell Andrew Lloyd Webber or Susan Boyle.

Spamalot is at the Bristol Hippodrome until April 28. Click here for more information.