Happily, back as King Arthur

By Jerry Fink

Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008 | 2 a.m.

Maybe the best indicator that “Monty Python’s Spamalot” has bucked the Broadway jinx and become a Vegas hit is that John O’Hurley has rejoined the cast. Back in March when the show opened at the Wynn, O’Hurley was the celebrity draw. Fresh from “Dancing With the Stars” and cult famous for his role as Elaine’s boss on “Seinfeld,” he certainly wasn’t the brightest star on the Strip.

But he drew rave reviews for his portrayal of King Arthur in the quirky musical.

Then O’Hurley took a 4 1/2-month break from the show.

During his hiatus, O’Hurley said, he spent time with his wife, Lisa Mesloh, and their 14-month-old son, William Dylan O’Hurley. He also found time to:

• Tape 165 episodes of “Family Feud,” the game show he’s hosted since 2006.

• Promote his book “Before Your Dog Can Eat Your Homework, First You Have to Do It.”

• Perform a few concerts (he’s a composer and a pianist as well as a singer).

• Host the Purina-sponsored National Dog Show.

• Invest in a copper mine.

Sounds like O’Hurley is J. Peterman, the role he played on “Seinfeld.”

O’Hurley the businessman is part owner of the J. Peterman Co. (same name as he headed on “Seinfeld”) and principal partner in two venture capital companies, Round One Investments in Beverly Hills and Heritage Capital Investments in Atlanta.

And he recently became a major investor in Copper King Mining Corp., which owns copper mines in Utah.

“They’re taking a different approach to copper mining,” O’Hurley said. “They’re taking a ‘green’ approach, ecological-minded approach, to copper mining. Flying up there shortly, going to get our knuckles dirty. Find out what it’s all about. Copper is huge. Aluminum could potentially replace copper, but the world’s aluminum supplies are only about nine days’ worth, so it couldn’t really replace copper. It’s needed all over the world, especially with China building its infrastructure as quickly as they are. They need copper desperately. It’s an excellent investment.”

Whether he’s playing the role of King Arthur in “Spamalot” or King Neptune in “SpongeBob SquarePants,” O’Hurley oozes sophistication, self-control and intelligence. He recently spoke to the Sun about the success of “Spamalot” and other topics.

Was it a relief to be away from the show for a while?

I just had to do so many other things. I had to get them done. I had no choice. But yes, it was nice to have a respite to do something else, but I come back with a renewed sense of energy and real appreciation for what I have here. I love this show dearly. I love this role particularly. I love the whole ambience of what I do here, which involves not only the theater but going to dinner afterward and the way the Wynns take care of you here, and the quality of the infrastructure here. It is an absolutely perfect environment for me as an actor. You couldn’t put me anywhere in this country right now and make me happier, even on Broadway. I’m happier here than on Broadway.

Did you have to rehearse when you returned?

I did a 45-minute line run on Sunday and then I did one walk-through with the cast before I opened on Monday night. That’s all I needed. It doesn’t go away. It’s ingrained in me. The role of King Arthur is an extension of J. Peterman. The only difference between this character and J. Peterman is about

700 years.

Are you here for the run of the show?

I’ll stay through the summer, but I will have to go back and start doing my compressed shooting schedule for “Family Feud.” So I do anticipate a hiatus, but then I’m back. As long as this show’s here I don’t see why I wouldn’t come back. We enjoy it so much, and the environment so much and the situation.

When you first signed on, were you concerned that the production might not last in light of other failures, such as “Hairspray”?

I was confident from the beginning. My instinct told me — and I’m thinking as a businessman — the Vegas audience is different from the Broadway audience. A Broadway crowd will go to New York but they won’t see just one show; they plan to see several. They buy their tickets in advance and make it an event because that’s what they’re going there for. As opposed to the Las Vegas audience coming out here for (a) a convention and (b) for a relaxing weekend. But they’re not coming here to see theater. If you want to see theater you go to New York. You come here to see a show, so only certain types of shows will last. It has to be an event and it has to be a brand, basically because they have limited time and limited funds. They want to see the best of what they can see. They want to see the pinnacle. They’re not here to experiment. They want to see something great and they want to laugh. They don’t want to be taught. They don’t want to be lectured to. So certain types of shows will work. “Monty Python” fits that brand. Say “Monty Python” and you know exactly what you’re getting, and that’s why I think the show works so well in this environment. We’re not attempting to preach or hug or kiss. We’re here to make people laugh, and we do. We make people laugh from the time the curtain goes up to the curtain call at the end.

As good as the show is, it can’t last forever. What plans do you have for the future?

I never like to think of anything from an ending point. I think this will go on for a while; I think it’s also finding its roots here in Las Vegas. We got the moniker of the No. 1 show in Vegas from reviewers and I think we are starting to live up to that. I think the audiences are starting to recognize us as the must-see show in town. It takes awhile. I’ve learned a lot about putting a show up in Vegas. You can’t just all of a sudden put up a show here and do well. Nobody does. You really have to earn your stripes in this town. It takes awhile. You have to have your feet on the stage here for a solid year before the word gets out. We’re starting to show solid audiences now, really solid audiences, and I think it’s because we’ve been on the ground and this is such a convention-driven town — they made their plans two years ago for this convention they’re here for. Unless you’re there for a year or so they don’t have time for you.

You’re a businessman. There’s been a lot of talk about a recession across the country. Some say Vegas is recession-proof. What do you think?

I don’t think anybody’s recession-proof, and a lot of Las Vegas money is expendable cash. The people are using it as play cash. Sooner or later, if a recession hits, that’s where it’s going to hit. They’ll not be going to Vegas or not staying as long or not spending as much. These are recreation dollars and also advertising dollars, and nothing runs from uncertainty faster than a dollar bill. So if corporations are having hard times, they may downsize their conventions. I know some corporations used to take over the entire convention center, but now they use three or four floors in Mandalay Bay. I’ve seen it happen. Is Vegas recession proof? No. But there is a lot of expansion going on in Las Vegas, with many rooms opening up. The Palazzo just opening. Encore will be opening. CityCenter. We’re going to be awash in rooms. But this will offer some extraordinary employment opportunities here with the expansions. I feel the housing problems will be solved in 12 to 18 months because of the enormous influx of employees who will have to live somewhere.

You’re a man of many talents: actor, talk show host, dancer, businessman. Which do you enjoy the most?

I enjoy the stimulation of lots of different things, the stimulation of business, the sound of human laughter — so I enjoy live theater, and that’s why I’m so drawn to this particular role. I think it is without parallel one of the funniest shows that has come across the Broadway stage, and that makes it enormously appealing.