Patsy (Monty Python)
Encyclopedia
Patsy is a character in the film Monty Python and The Holy Grail
and the musical Spamalot
. He is played by Terry Gilliam
in Monty Python and The Holy Grail. Serving as King Arthur
's assistant, he only has a few simple tasks throughout the entire film, such as using two halves of a coconut
to simulate the hoofbeats of Arthur's nonexistent horse
.
He also announces King Arthur's arrival, as when Arthur's group approaches a castle claimed to be Camelot
early in the movie. Patsy has only one line in the film: "It's only a model," said when the Knights of the Round Table first catch sight of the castle at Camelot
.
Patsy's fate is left ambiguous in the film; he disappears after King Arthur encounters Tim the Enchanter
, and is not seen again.
In the 2005 musical, Spamalot
, Patsy has a bigger role with many more lines, and he sings "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life
" from The Life of Brian to King Arthur, and they later sing "I'm All Alone". As in the film, Patsy follows King Arthur everywhere and bangs coconuts together to simulate Arthur's horse. In the original Broadway
production, he was played by Michael McGrath
, who impersonated Terry Gilliam's role in the film.
McGrath's role in the musical was praised in reviews, and he was nominated for the 2005 Tony Award
for Best Featured Actor in a Musical
for Spamalot. In the musical, Patsy is half Jewish. He didn't mention this at first because "it's just not the kind of thing you say to a heavily armed Christian
."
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a 1974 British comedy film written and performed by the comedy group Monty Python , and directed by Gilliam and Jones...
and the musical Spamalot
Spamalot
Monty Python's Spamalot is a musical comedy "lovingly ripped off from" the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Like the film, it is a highly irreverent parody of the Arthurian Legend, but it differs from the film in many ways, especially in its parodies of Broadway theatre...
. He is played by Terry Gilliam
Terry Gilliam
Terrence Vance "Terry" Gilliam is an American-born British screenwriter, film director, animator, actor and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. Gilliam is also known for directing several films, including Brazil , The Adventures of Baron Munchausen , The Fisher King , and 12 Monkeys...
in Monty Python and The Holy Grail. Serving as King Arthur
King Arthur
King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...
's assistant, he only has a few simple tasks throughout the entire film, such as using two halves of a coconut
Coconut
The coconut palm, Cocos nucifera, is a member of the family Arecaceae . It is the only accepted species in the genus Cocos. The term coconut can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which is not a botanical nut. The spelling cocoanut is an old-fashioned form of the word...
to simulate the hoofbeats of Arthur's nonexistent horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
.
He also announces King Arthur's arrival, as when Arthur's group approaches a castle claimed to be Camelot
Camelot
Camelot is a castle and court associated with the legendary King Arthur. Absent in the early Arthurian material, Camelot first appeared in 12th-century French romances and eventually came to be described as the fantastic capital of Arthur's realm and a symbol of the Arthurian world...
early in the movie. Patsy has only one line in the film: "It's only a model," said when the Knights of the Round Table first catch sight of the castle at Camelot
Camelot
Camelot is a castle and court associated with the legendary King Arthur. Absent in the early Arthurian material, Camelot first appeared in 12th-century French romances and eventually came to be described as the fantastic capital of Arthur's realm and a symbol of the Arthurian world...
.
Patsy's fate is left ambiguous in the film; he disappears after King Arthur encounters Tim the Enchanter
Tim the Enchanter
Tim the Enchanter is a fictional character from Monty Python's 1975 movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail played by John Cleese. In the play Spamalot based on the movie, the part was originally played by Hank Azaria. Tim is a strange reclusive wizard or conjurer who wears ram horns on his...
, and is not seen again.
In the 2005 musical, Spamalot
Spamalot
Monty Python's Spamalot is a musical comedy "lovingly ripped off from" the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Like the film, it is a highly irreverent parody of the Arthurian Legend, but it differs from the film in many ways, especially in its parodies of Broadway theatre...
, Patsy has a bigger role with many more lines, and he sings "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life
"Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" is a popular song written by Eric Idle that was originally featured in the 1979 film Monty Python's Life of Brian and has gone on to become a common singalong at public events such as football matches as well as funerals.-History:Whilst trying to come up...
" from The Life of Brian to King Arthur, and they later sing "I'm All Alone". As in the film, Patsy follows King Arthur everywhere and bangs coconuts together to simulate Arthur's horse. In the original Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
production, he was played by Michael McGrath
Michael McGrath (actor)
Michael McGrath is an American stage actor. He is best known for his role as Patsy in Spamalot, for which he received a nomination for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. He has been an ensemble member and understudy for many shows, including My Favorite Year, Swinging on a Star and...
, who impersonated Terry Gilliam's role in the film.
McGrath's role in the musical was praised in reviews, and he was nominated for the 2005 Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
for Best Featured Actor in a Musical
Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
This is a list of the winners and nominations of Tony Award for the Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical. The award has been presented since 1947...
for Spamalot. In the musical, Patsy is half Jewish. He didn't mention this at first because "it's just not the kind of thing you say to a heavily armed Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
."