Why Spamalot’s Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer Loves to Play the Broadway Diva

In real time, you can see on the faces of her fellow cast members in Monty Python’s Spamalot (St. James Theatre, booking to April 28, 2024) that they, like the audience, are hearing some of Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer’s riffs for the first time. It is taking every ounce of their actorly strength to stay in character, and not laugh.

In the meta-world of Spamalot on Broadway—a show that is also about putting on a show—The Lady of the Lake is a diva both as character and portrayer, with the physical and vocal bearing of a mixture of Celine Dion, Carol Burnett (who Kritzer played in the series finale of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Mariah Carey, Liza Minnelli, Judy Garland, Bette Midler, and Cher. She demolishes high notes and rousing ballads, and she damn well wants you to stand and cheer every note she sings, every head tilt, and every gown. Dressed in shimmering grandeur, she does not just want applause, she expects applause.

Kritzer, a real-life brunette made flaming redhead via lustrous wig, plays both Arthurian legend character, but also—delighting the audience—the demanding, regal, stage-chomping, queen-of-musical-theater who plays her. Why does she have so little stage time, she wants to know. Now!

Read more at The Daily Beast.