The wacky, irreverent and ridiculously silly comedy of Monty Python makes a full-scale musical assault on the funnybone at Berwick’s Hackmatack Playhouse in its riotous production of “Spamalot,” running through Aug. 16.  

The setting is England, not Finland, in the year 932 AD. King Arthur and his faithful coconut-clacking horse, Patsy, percussively portrayed by the rubber-faced Michael Stailey, begin their adventure of kooky lunacy. The moonstruck king is skillfully enacted by Nick Iannotti with daft nobility. He shoulders the heft of this nonsensical poppycock, bumbling through the ludicrous farcicality with dignity.

As the Black Plague ravages all of Europe, the stage really comes to life with the rousing rendition of “I Am Not Dead Yet.” Heightening the hijinx is a chorus of corpses that joins the fracas as the stage erupts in wild comic reincarnation.  

Arthur is soon joined by two delightfully demented knights, Sir Galahad and Sir Robin. Eric Rehm, a veteran of nine Hackmatack productions, portrays Galahad along with a bevy of cameos, aided by a kinky collection of wigs and beards. Rehm is a very competent compliment to the chicanery and an antic asset to the production in his many roles.  

Sir Robin, as portrayed by Steve Small, is simply hilarious. Small is at his very best as the singing seeker of the Broadway muse in the wacky production number “You Won’t Succeed On Broadway.” Small is huge in this nutty anthem to the secret of theatrical success, but is marvelous throughout the demented proceedings. As the carrot-topped Sir Robin with an embarrassing excretory function, he is a total hoot.

Hackmatack’s production comes at a rather timely moment as the Python group of comics, now in their 70s, recently joined back together for a final farewell salute on London’s West End Stage.  

The comedy is contagious and the happenings outrageous in “Spamalot,” Monty Python’s total screwball send-up of Broadway, which is loosely based on the characters and situations of their 1975 movie “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.”  

I confess to being a long-time Monty Python fan. My college buddies and I would memorize their routines and perform them at the slightest provocation. “Spamalot” is challenging material for a small summer theater, but the gang of Hackmatackers put on a spirited show with strong ensemble enthusiasm. It’s laugh-a-minute goofball fun. The theater would be wise to dispense with the vocal mics, however, which were were not behaving properly on opening night. The voices are strong and better off without amplification.  

Showtimes are Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m., with a Thursday matinee at 2 p.m. There is no show on Sundays. The summer theater is located on a 200-acre farm on Route 9 (538 School St.) in Berwick.

Call 698-1807 for tickets. Complete information is available at www.hackmatack.org.

— Gregory Reynolds Morell is director of the Antic Arts Center, and is a writer and producer.