Camelot The Musical

Review: 'Camelot' (4 stars)

Nobody does it better than Stratford when it comes to staging shows that audiences think they've seen to death. The festival's new production of "Camelot" provides ample proof of that. From the sets and costumes to pitch-perfect performances, this is a show for the ages.

"Camelot" starts cleverly as a young Arthur is tutored by the magician Merlyn (Brent Carver). He's taught the strategic attributes of various animals in a complicated scene that finds live critters taking the stage. The next scene is even trickier to get across: Arthur (Geraint Wyn Davies), now king, meets bride-to-be Guenevere (Kaylee Harwood), who reveals that she longs to be ravished by a stranger. In 2011, after decades of feminism and warnings about the perils of sexual harassment, it's a moment that's potentially cringe-worthy, but it's played with a wink by the actors. Clearly, they let us know, they understand that times have changed since the Lerner & Loewe musical was first performed in 1960.

"Camelot" is still often associated with the Kennedy administration and the events that shaped America in the early '60s. There has always been a decidedly Cold War-era vibe surrounding Arthur's idea that knights will gather at a round table and work together without rank to employ weapons once used against one another to do good works. That round-table concept is solidified in the show by the arrival of saintly Lancelot du Lac (Jonathan Winsby), but sadly undermined when he falls for Guenevere.

The Stratford production enjoys poking some fun at the pomposity of Lancelot, who dons a glistening suit of armor that drew audible oohs and aahs from the audience. (Kudos to costume designer Mara Blumenfeld.) Several talented cast members lure playgoers into using their imaginations while they describe an offstage jousting match between Lancelot and three foes who long to put a dent in that armor.

Productions of "Camelot" are often loose affairs that are driven by the star power of the actor portraying Arthur. Stratford, however, gets back to the show's basics. Sure, there are some silly moments, but this production achieves a level of poignancy that has eluded many previous versions of the beloved musical.

Camelot: The Actor's Musical | Between the Lines | Stratford ...

Camelot: The Actor's Musical | Between the Lines | Stratford Shakespeare Festival Description: www.stratfordshakespearefestival.com Geraint Wyn Davies (King Arthur) and Antoni Cimolino (General Director) discuss the way Lerner and Loewe created a musical designed for actors and the sometimes complicated plot of Camelot.

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