In keeping with the spirit of silliness that Monty Python fans have come to expect, a news release titled "Spam Facts" for the national tour of "Spamalot" guarantees that "one knight will lose their head every night."

While no knights or other actors were literally decapitated Friday night, many of the audience of 613 laughed their heads off during the performance of the Tony Award-winning musical at Bedell Performance Hall.

"Spamalot" had originally been scheduled in December but was canceled when winter weather prevented the cast from making it to Cape Girardeau. The one-night only performance at Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus was part of a second national tour that ends in June.

The Tony Award-winning show, which producers say is "lovingly ripped off" from the 1975 film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," spoofs Broadway musicals while keeping within the general story of the film. The audience followed King Arthur (Steve McCoy), Sir Lancelot (Adam Grabau) and other knights as they battled Knights Who Say Ni, a carnivorous rabbit and other silly adversaries in search of the Holy Grail, traveling on imaginary horses and clicking coconut halves to simulate the sound of hoofbeats.

Eric Norman of Cape Girardeau saw it for the fourth time, including twice on Broadway. This time he brought wife Sonya and sons Ethan and Connor along.

"It's a great way to spend an evening," said Norman, who called himself "a fan of musical theater."

Southeast Missouri State University theater student Kyle VanPool also had tickets for the December performance and made sure to get some when the show was rescheduled.

"I'm a musical junkie," he said.

Among the musical numbers attracting the largest applause were those by The Lady of the Lake (Caroline Bowman), bestower of the sword Excalibur on King Arthur who later revealed herself as Guinevere. Featured in numbers such as "The Song That Goes Like This," "Diva's Lament" and "Find Your Grail," Bowman's glimmering costumes were made of hand-strung glass beads.

Grabau, who also played a Knight Who Says Ni, the Taunting Frenchman and Tim the Enchanter, said the fact that many of the actors play multiple roles make the production "a pretty costume-heavy show." According to the production company, the cast wardrobe includes more than 75 wigs and over 100 undergarments, including 30 pairs of men's fishnet stockings and 56 codpieces.

Pertinent address: 518 S. Fountain St., Cape Girardeau